Saxony 1778-EDC 5 thaler Fr-2876
This specimen was lot 906 in CNG Triton XXVIII (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $3,981.25. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY, Sachsen (Duchy & Electorate). Friedrich August III. Elector, 1763-1806. AV August d’or – 5 Taler. Dresden mint. Dated 1778 EDC. Head right / Two wreathed coats-of-arms; elector’s cap above. In NGC encapsulation 6931384-008, graded AU 58. Extremely rare. Only one example of this date in CoinArchives. Top Pop, with none other graded at either NGC or PCGS. From the Drewry Family Collection. Ex Harmer & Rooke (7 June 1989), lot 122." In addition to an extensive series of ducats, the elector also issued this gold five thaler (self-titled an august d'or) in 1777-82 and 1785. It is rare; this is the second one we have posted to this site. The august d'or was struck to the same standard as the Prussian friedrichs d'or. The SCWC lists a ten thaler (KM 1003) for this date but not the five thaler.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.68 g, 0.902 fine gold, this specimen 23 mm diameter, 6.64 g, 12 h axis.
Catalog reference: Kahnt 1038 var. (mintmark); KM 1001 (unlisted date); Friedberg 2876.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVIII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2024.
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