Saxony 1551 thaler Dav-9742
This specimen was lot 1356 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 5,000 CHF (about US$7,253 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Sachsen, Herzogtum, ab 1547 Kurfürstentum, ab 1806 Königreich, Gemeinsam Die Söhne Johann Friedrichs während seiner Gefangenschaft, 1547-1552. Taler 1551, Saalfeld. Mit Titel Karls V. Selten, besonders in dieser Erhaltung. Gutes sehr schön. Überdurchschnittliche Erhaltung mit feiner Patina. (Germany, electorate of Saxony, issued by the sons of John Frederick during his imprisonment, 1547-52, thaler of 1551, Saalfeld mint, struck in the name of Charles V. Rare, especially in this condition, Good Very Fine, Extraordinary condition and nicely toned.)"
John Frederick was elector of Saxony from 1532 until 1547, when the emperor took away his title and awarded it to his Albertine cousin Moritz. He was a prisoner of the emperor 1547-52 and these coins were issued during that time. This type was struck 1551-52 along with Dav-9741 (KM MB341) and Dav-9743 (KM MB343) with slight variations in the legends. His descendants divided his Thuringian domain, creating the Saxon duchies.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: silver, this specimen 28.98 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB342, Schnee 138, Dav-9742.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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