Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (1)602 1/16 thaler
The first specimen was lot 11474 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €65 (about US$68). The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. 1/16 Taler, (1)602 - Germany. Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Johann Adolf. NGC VF Details--Environmental Damage. From the L. E. Bruun Collection." The second specimen was lot 839 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[2] noted, "SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN-GOTTORP: Johann Adolf, 1590-1616, AR 1/16 thaler (doppelschilling), Steinbeck, 1602, round Schleswig arms, titles of Johann Adolf in legend // small shield with value '16' superimposed on floriated cross, a lovely mint state example of an early 17th century coin, PCGS graded MS62." The dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp were a cadet branch of the house of Oldenburg, which ruled Denmark. They divided the rule of Schleswig-Holstein between them and the history of the duchies is the story of their quarrels and feuds. Eventually the ducal title passed to Peter III of Russia in 1762 who determined to use the Russian army to reconquer his province. This diversion of Russian resources was one of the causes of his ouster and murder in that year and his widow, Catherine the Great, sold his rights to the Danish, finally ending the argument after two centuries. This type was struck 1594-1605, mostly with two digit dates, and was equal to a double schilling. Johann Adolf (b. 1575) was duke 1590-1616.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: silver, 28 mm diameter, the first specimen 2.86 g.
Catalog reference: KM-5; Sieg-6.2; Bruun-14075. The second specimen is KM-5, Lange-287.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients, World Coins & World Paper Money, David B. Simpson Medals & World Coins Part 1, Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection, and Selections from the L. E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
- [2]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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