Transylvania 1611-CI BI 3 groschen
This specimen was lot 4380 in Sincona sale 39 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 325 CHF (about US$390 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Siebenbergen, Gabriel Bathori, 1608-1613 3 Groschen 1611. CI-BI Hermannstadt Rv. Retrogrades E in TRANSIL-VANIE. Vorzüglich. (principality of Transylvania, Gabriel Bathori, 1608-1613, three groschen of 1611, Hermannstadt mint, with retrograde 'E's' on the reverse. Extremely fine.)"
The princes of Transylvania were sandwiched between the Ottoman Empire to the south and the Hapsburg dominions to the west and attempted to maintain independence from both. The Hapsburgs reconquered Hungary from the Turks in the 1680's and ended Transylvanian autonomy. This type is listed for 1611 only, plus KM 80 with a different reverse. It is not listed as expensive so we can't explain the price realized.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 2.25 g.
Catalog reference: KM A77, Beszeda BAG-3G-36. Resch 135. Huszar 276.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Adolf Resch, Siebenburgische Münzen und Medaillen von 1538 bis Gegenwart. Hermannstadt, 1901 (reprinted in Montreal, 1965).
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 39, World coins and medals, coins and medals from Switzerland, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
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