Saxony 1656 1/4 thaler
This specimen was lot 376 in Sincona Auction 103 (Zürich, May 2026), where it sold for 150 CHF (about US$191 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Sachsen, Herzogtum, ab 1547 Kurfürstentum, Albertiner, Johann Georg I. 1615-1656. 1/4 Taler 1656 CR, Dresden. Auf seinen Tod. Münzmeister Constantin Rothe, Münzzeichen Eichel. Gutes sehr schön. (Germany, electorate of Saxony, John George I, 1615-56, quarter thaler of 1656, Dresden mint, on his death. Good Very Fine.)"
Saxony, one of the larger divisions of Germany and blessed with numerous silver mines, issued large numbers of thalers. This type was issued 1656 only to commemorate the death of the elector. It is one of a series that included a groschen (KM 446), an eighth thaler (KM 447), half thaler (KM 450) and thaler (KM 451).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 7.15 g.
Catalog reference: KM 448, Clauss/Kahnt 355. Kohl 217.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 103: World and Swiss coins and medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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