Saxony 1676-DO 3 thaler Dav-LS409
This specimen was lot 30277 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $40,800. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Imposing and Extremely Rare Shooting Klippe. German States: Saxony. Johann Georg II Klippe 3 Taler 1676-DO MS60 NGC, Dresden mint. By Ernst Caspar Dürr and Martin Heinrich Omeis. Struck to celebrate the shooting festival in Dresden, held in honor of Queen Magdalena Sibyl. Certainly, one of the most impressive klippes produced under the Albertine Dynasty, embellished with the anthropomorphizations of Fortuna (Fortune) and Spes (Hope) flanking a bird's perch from which an eagle takes flight. Produced for the Prince-Elector's (Kurprinz) honoring of his mother, making her the "Queen of the Shooting" (Schützenkönigin), the type, described by the Standard Catalog of World Coins simply as "Rare," was notably missing from both the Merseburger and Wilmersdörffer collections. The remnants of an inked number--appearing to the cataloger as 291--is likely an inventory designation from a previous numismatic cabinet. Lightly handled in-line with the designation, the piece nonetheless retains a full display of detail, rub totally absent from the highpoints, while the edges remain sharp and free of any signs of past mounting. For reference, only three pieces have become available in recent years, one offered in Harald Möller's April 4, 2000 sale; one in Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger's April 27, 2000 sale; and most recently, a specimen which brought 27,000 Euros in a September 2017 European auction. From the Paramount Collection."
This design also appeared on a 2½ thaler (KM 554), 4 thaler (KM 556/Dav-LS408) and six thaler (Dav-LS407).
Recorded Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 88.95 g.
Catalog reference: KM 555 (Rare), Dav-LS409, Dassdorf-905, Merseburger-Unl., Vogel Collection-6942, Wilmersdörffer-Unl., Schnee-949.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., German Secular Talers, 1600-1700, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1976.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins: Signature Auction 3096, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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