Saxony 1754-EC 5 thaler Fr-2859
This specimen was lot 3808 in Künker sale 264 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €9,500 (about US$12,272 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SACHSEN, KURFÜRSTENTUM Friedrich August II. 1733-1763. 5 Taler (August d'or) 1754, Leipzig. Gekröntes und geharnischtes Brustbild r. mit umgelegtem Mantel un der Kette des Ordens vom Goldenen Vlies//Gekröntes, vierfeldiges Wappen mit Mittelschild, umher Lorbeerkranz. GOLD. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Sehr attraktives Exemplar mit herrlicher Goldpatina, fast vorzüglich. (Germany, electorate of Saxony, Frederick Augustus II, 1733-63, five thaler of 1754, Leipzig mint. Obverse: crowned, mantled and armored bust right with the Order of the Golden Fleece; reverse: crowned, quartered arms in laurel wreath. Rare in this quality, very attractive example with handsome gold color, choice extremely fine.)"
This rare type was issued 1753-54 and is the first issue of this denomination. It was introduced in Prussia in 1737 as a wilhelm d'or and became better known there as a friedrichs d'or. Its use spread over northern Germany but it never displaced the familiar gold ducat of higher purity. This specimen realized fourteen times the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.68 g, 0.903 fine gold, .192 troy oz AGW, this specimen 6.47 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-2859; Kahnt 669; Kopicki 2150 (R2), KM A943.
- 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.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 264, Gold coins | Russian Coins and Medals | German Coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
Link to:
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- return to coins of German States, Saxony