Saxony 1539 thaler Dav-9728
This specimen was lot 1514 in Stack's Coin Galleries sale (Irvine, July 2011), where it sold for $337. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMAN STATES. Saxony. Taler, 1539. Johann Friedrich and Heinrich (1539-471). Duke-Elector's caped bust r. wielding sword. Rv. Caped Heinrich 3/4. with scepter. Strong strike at the centers normal circulation, cleaned at one time. ABOUT EXTREMELY FINE. Ex Coin Galleries October 1954 Sale, Lot 570." Johann Friedrich II was the fifth in the Ernestine line of Electors of Saxony. His father, Johann Friedrich I, in 1547, while a prisoner of the emperor, was forced to cede the electoral title and much land to his cousin Moritz of the Albertine line. On the death of Johann Friedrich I in 1552, Johann Friedrich II partitioned ducal Saxony with his brothers, initiating the fragmentation of that state. This thaler was issued in the name of Johann Friedrich I while he was still elector. A double thaler (Dav-9724), 1½ thaler (Dav-9725) and triple thaler (Dav-A9724) also exist.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.6-29.2 g, silver, 39-40 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM MB227, Dav-9728.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1500-1600, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1979.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800, Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
- [1]Van Valen, Frank, and Vicken Yegparian, The July 2011 Coin Galleries Sale, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, 2011.
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