Transylvania 1622-NB thaler Dav-4714
This specimen was lot 3646 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 3,000 CHF (about US$4,522 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Gabriel Bethlen, 1613-1629. Taler 1622 NB, Nagybanya. (Rosette) GABRIEL.D:GSA.RO:IM.ET.TRANSSYL:PRINCEPS Geharnischtes Brustbild nach rechts. Rv. .PARRE.HVN.DO.SIC.CO.AC.OPO:RATIB.DVX. Gekrönter quadrierter Schild mit den Wappen von Oppeln, Ratibor und Siebenbürgen mit dem Bethlen'schen Mittelschild auf einer Volutenkartusche, unten zwischen N-B. Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Feine Patina. (Hungary, principality of Transylvania, Gabriel Bethlen, 1613-29, thaler of 1622, Nagybanya mint. Obverse: armored bust right; reverse: crowned and quartered arms of Oppeln, Ratibor and Transylvania with the esscutcheon of Bethlen in a cartouche, dividing the mintmark. Very rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Nicely toned.)"
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 SCWC notes KM 134 (Dav-4710), KM 135 (Dav-4711), KM 136 (Dav-4712), KM 137 (Dav-4713), KM 146 (Dav-4714, shown here) and KM 147 (Dav-4715) for 1622. All are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.38 g.
Catalog reference: KM Resch 171. Huszar 379. Dav-4714.
- 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.
- Adolf Resch, Siebenburgische Münzen und Medaillen von 1538 bis Gegenwart. Hermannstadt, 1901 (reprinted in Montreal, 1965).
- [1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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