Teutonic Order 1603 thaler Dav-5848
The first specimen was lot 24118 in Heritage sale 3024 (Chicago, April 2013), where it sold for $2,702.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Teutonic Order. Maximilian Taler 1603, MS63 NGC, lovely old-time silvery-gray patina, the obverse features a standing portrait of Maximilian of Austria. Rarely seen in this select quality." The second specimen was lot 1479 in Künker sale 263 (Osnabruck, June 2015), where it sold for €550 (about US$711 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"Erzherzog Maximilian als Hochmeister des Deutschen Ordens, 1585-1590-1618. Reichstaler 1603, Hall. Sehr schön +. (Holy Roman Empire, archduke Maximilian as grand master of the Teutonic Order, thaler of 1603, Hall mint, very fine or better.)
Erzherzog Maximilian, *12.10.1558 Wiener Neustadt, d. 2.11.1618 Wien, wurde 1585 zum Koadjutor und 1590 zum Hoch- und Deutschmeister des Deutschen Ordens ernannt. Bereits 1602 wurde er Gubernator von Tirol. 1603 erhielt er von Kaiser Rudolf II. das Recht, in Hall jeden 15. Zain mit seinem Bild prägen zu lassen. Nach dem Tod Rudolfs II. wurde Erzherzog Karl Hochmeister des Deutschen Ordens. Maximilian regierte bis zu seinem Tod in Tirol. (Archduke Maximilian, born in Winer Neustadt in 1558, died in Vienna in 1618, became co-adjutor in 1585 and in 1590 grand master of the Teutonic Order. Later in 1602 he became governor of Tyrol where he died.)"
Altho the Teutonic Order is best remembered in history for its activities in Prussia and Latvia, these scarce thalers were minted for them in Hall in Tyrol.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: M./T. 366; Prokisch 60 C/c, Dav-5848, KM 3.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Heinz Moser and Heinz Tursky, Die Munzstatte Hall in Tirol, 2 vols. Innsbruck: Verlag Dr Rudolf Erhad, 1981.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3024, featuring the Kairos and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collections, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
- [2]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 263, The Friedrich Popken collection of gold and silver coinages | Coins and Medals from Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. the collection of Ernst Otto Horn, part III, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
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