Schlick 1644-CB thaler Dav-3406
This specimen was lot 1811 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 7,000 CHF (about US$9,395 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH, Schlick, Grafschaft, Heinrich IV. 1612-1650. Taler 1644, Plan. Mit dem Titel von Ferdinand III. Ausbeute der Joachimsthaler Gruben. Münzmeister Caspar Begner von Rösselfeld. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. NGC MS62. Prachtvolle Erhaltung mit herrlicher Patina. (Austrian states, county of Schlick, Henry IV, 1612-50, thaler of 1644, Plan mint, struck in the name of Ferdinand III, for the Joachimsthal mines. Rare in this condition, Beautiful condition with magnificent patina.)"
The counts of Schlick in Bohemia were the original proprietors of the mint at Joachimsthal, where the first "thalers" were struck. However, by the seventeenth century the counts had long since lost the mine and only a few scarce pieces were struck. This type is listed in the SCWC for 1644 only. This example realized over six times the catalog value. Wikipedia comments,
"Count Heinrich von Schlick zu Bassano und Weißkirchen (1580 – 5 January 1650, Vienna) was an Imperial Field Marshal and president of the Hofkriegsrat. As a young man, he fought in Hungary under Giorgio Basta for Rudolf II against Stephen Bocskay's revolt until 1604. As a Lutheran, he sided with the Protestant Bohemians at the beginning of the Bohemian phase of the Thirty Years War, when the province was overrun by Imperial forces. As a competent officer his advice was often overlooked, especially at the Battle of White Mountain that took place on November 8, 1620. The battle was a defeat for the Protestant Bohemians. After the defeat he changed to the Imperial side."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29.01 g.
Catalog reference: KM 8.9, Slg. Donebauer 3817. Smetana/Jakymenkova CB12b, Dav-3406.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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