Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp 1656-MM 1/8 thaler
The first specimen was lot 11502 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €85 (about US$89). The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. 1/8 Taler, 1656. Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Frederik III. NGC AU Details--Cleaned. Strong portrait. From the L. E. Bruun Collection." The second specimen was lot 11208 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Copenhagen, June 2026), where it sold for €149 (about US$172). The catalog description[2] noted, "GERMANY. Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. 1/8 Taler, 1656-MM. Schleswig Mint. Friedrich III. NGC VF-35. Decent example with some rainbow toning in the obverse legend. From the L.E. Bruun Collection." 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 1625-26, 1635-36 and 1656-57 and was equal to four schillings. The SCWC prices all the dates the same. Frederik III (b. 1597) was duke 1616-59. He favored Sweden in an attempt to avoid Danish domination and his daughter Hedwig Eleonora became queen of Sweden. Other daughters married into Mecklenburg-Gustrow, Baden-Durlach, Hesse-Darmstadt and Anhalt-Zerbst.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: billon, the first specimen 3.43 g, the second specimen is 3.36 g.
Catalog reference: KM-75; Sieg-8.6; Bruun-14324. The second specimen is KM-75; Sieg-8.6; Lange-338a; Bruun-14323.
- 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]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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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