Saxony 1650-CR 4 thaler Dav-LS393
This specimen was lot 1509 in Sincona sale 18 (Zürich, May 2014), where it sold for CHF 25,500 (about US$33,600 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"4 Taler 1650. Dresden Auf den Westfälischen Frieden. (Reichsapfel) IOHANN GEORG . D : G . DVX SAXON . IVLIÆ . CLIV . ET MONT : Der geharnischte Kurfürst mit geschultertem Schwert auf getäfeltem Boden stehend, die Linke auf einen Tisch mit darauf liegendem Helm gelegt, links hinten Säule mit Vorhang. Rv. Kurwappen und sächsisches Wappen nebeneinander unter Helm mit Helmzier, zu den Seiten der Helmzier die geteilte Jahreszahl unten das Mzz. (Eichel), umher SACRI . ROMANI . IMPERI . ARCHIM . ET ELECTOR, in einem Aussenkreis 20 Wappen. Äusserst selten. Vorzüglich. (Electorate of Saxony, quadruple thaler of 1650, Dresden mint, on the peace of Westphalia. Obverse: armored figure of the Elector stands on a tiled floor, holding a sword and a helmet; behind, a pillar with a curtain. Reverse: the arms of the elector and of Saxony divide the date and mintmaster's initials, twenty shields around. Of the highest rarity, extremely fine.)"
The elector had ample cause to celebrate the peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years War. A double thaler (Dav-LS395) and triple thaler (Dav-LS394) were issued for the occasion. This rare coin is shown but not priced in the SCWC.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 116.10 g.
Catalog reference: KM 437, Dav-LS393, Schnee, 885, Clauss/Kahnt 336.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., Large Size Silver Coins of the World, 16th-19th Centuries, 3rd Ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1991.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, & Banknotes: Auction 18, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2014.
- Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800. Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
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