Saxony 1657 4 thaler Dav-LS396
This specimen was lot 32218 in Heritage sale 3041 (Chicago, August 2015), where it sold for $39,950. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Saxony. Johann Georg II Vicariat 4 Taler 1657 MS62 NGC, Ex. Virgil Brand Collection. Of the highest rarity. Beautiful old cabinet toning with subtle rainbow iridescence noted highlighting the devices. A strong and bold strike, from dies of exceptional artistry. With a wonderful depiction of the Elector on horseback on the obverse, with a long list of his titles on the reverse. While Saxony double talers are not particularly rare, the four talers are almost never seen. A coin such as this, with its superb condition, great rarity, and esteemed pedigree, is nearly impossible to estimate. Nonetheless, we hope to provide some guidance to the bidder. From our research, we have been able to find just two other Saxony four talers that have sold publicly in the last decade. The first, a piece from Saxony-Albertine struck in 1650 under Johann Georg I (Dav-LS393), was sold by Sincona in 2014 for 25,500 CHF hammer ($28,504 at the time). That, however, was a somewhat different type, showing the Elector standing in armor on the obverse with a shield pattern on the reverse. Perhaps more comparable to the piece on offer here is another Vicariat issue from 1629 that crossed the block twice in 2011 (Dav-LS386). It first sold in a Westälische Auktionsgesellschaft auction in February, 2011 for 24,000 euros hammer ($32,529). It was then resold by Hess-Divo a few months later for a hammer price of 44,000 CHF ($49,949). Though a somewhat different type, and thus one cannot make a one to one comparison, it is the opinion of this cataloger that the present specimen is higher grade. A coin such as this, with its combination of condition, rarity, and pedigree, is perhaps best described, to borrow a word from our friends in Germany, as a 'Kabinettstück.' Indeed, we cannot help but believe that it is surely destined to become one of the centerpieces of an advanced collection."
The elector also issued a quarter thaler (KM 457), a half thaler (KM 458), a single thaler (Dav-7628), a double thaler (Dav-LS398), a triple thaler (Dav-LS397), a single ducat (KM 463) and a double ducat (KM 464) on this occasion. We may assume he thought it was a big deal.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 87 g, silver.
Catalog reference: KM 462 ('Rare'), Dav-LS396.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World & Ancient Coins Auction 3041, featuring the Eric Beckman Collection of Canadian Coins, the Kaiser Collection of German Gold Coins and the Rudman Collection of Mexican Coins, Part I, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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