Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp (1)606 1/4 thaler
This specimen was lot 266 in Künker sale 400 (Berlin, February 2024), where it sold for €4,800 (about US$6,227 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, HOLSTEIN-GOTTORP, HERZOGTUM, Johann Adolf, 1590-1616. 1/4 Reichstaler 1606 (Jahreszahl im Stempel aus 1605 geändert), Schleswig. Prägung als Bischof von Lübeck. Münzmeister Matz Puls. Geharnischtes Brustbild r. mit breitem Kragen und Feldbinde//Dreifach behelmtes, sechsfeldiges Wappen mit aufgelegtem Mittelschild, zu den Seiten die Münzmeistersignatur und die Jahreszahl 60 - 6. Von größter Seltenheit. Winz. Schrötlingsfehler am Rand, sehr schön. Exemplar der Auktion Westfälische Auktionsgesellschaft 43, Dortmund 2007, Nr. 1328. (Germany, duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, John Adolf, 1590-1616, qyarter thaler of 1606, 1606/5 overdate, Schleswig mint, struck as bishop of Lübeck. Obverse: armored bust right with wide collar and armband; reverse: triple helmeted, six-fold arms with escutcheon divide the mintmaster's initials and the date.)"
John Adolf was also bishop of Lübeck 1586-1607 and archbishop of Bremen 1589-96. He was forced to resign the archbishopric on succeeding to the duchy. The dynastic affairs of this duchy are complicated even by German standards as the dukes were related to the king of Denmark and even the czar of Russia. The city of Lubeck issued a quarter thaler in 1606 (KM MB164) but it was struck in the name of emperor Rudolf II. We list this under Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp as the coin does not mention his episcopal titles (obverse: "* JOHAN·ADOLF·D:G HERES·NORWEG·", the reverse: "DVX·SH ·SE·D·C·O·E·"). The SCWC lists a Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp quarter thaler of 1609 (KM 24) which might be the same type, but a photo is lacking.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 7.03 g.
Catalog reference: KM 24?, Lange -; Behrens -.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 400: Selected löser of the Dukes of Guelph from the Friedrich Popken Collection | Numismatic treasures from the Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. "multiple portraits" from a Westphalian private collection, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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