Saxony 1853-F thaler Dav-878
This specimen was lot 31184 in Heritage sale 3105 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Saxony. Friedrich August II Proof Taler 1853-F PR64 Cameo NGC, Dresden mint. A scintillating representative compelling for its type, and one of only a handful of decidedly Proof Talers from this vintage of Saxony origin. Deep mirrors abound, the product of a laudable strike upon a specially prepared planchet, leaving a full frost to the raised devices and confirming NGC's "Cameo" superlative. To date, this offering is the sole example in Proof submitted to the major grading parties and is surely dressed to impress. Ex. Johann Max Böttcher Collection (Harald Möller Auction 42, November-December 2006, Lot 1546). From the Cape Coral Collection, Part II." In 1839, Saxony dropped the convention thaler (28.06 g, 0.833 fine silver) for the reichsthaler standard shown here, originally adopted by Prussia in the 1760's. Later in the 1850's, the vereinsthaler would be introduced, which was smaller but had the same amount of silver (18.52 g, 0.900 fine). This type of 1850-54 was accompanied by a mining thaler (Dav-879) which is somewhat scarcer.
Recorded mintage: 1,171,000 plus 55,000 mining thalers.
Specification: 22.27 g, 0.750 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 1175, Dav-878, Thun-327.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 January 9 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction - New York #3105, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
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