Transylvania 1661-CV 2 thaler Dav-A4766
This specimen was lot 2107 in Sincona sale 25 (Zürich, October 2015), where it sold for 105,000 CHF (about US$129,699 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Johann Kemény, 1661-1662 Double taler 1661. Klausenburg IOAN : KEMENY (letter Y small and set high) - D : G : PRI : TRA ° Armoured half-length bust to r. with kalpaq (fur cap). Shouldered sceptre in r. hand. Left hand on sword hilt. Rev. PAR : REG : HVN : DO : ET : SIC : CO : 1661 Crown above decorative frame with eagle's heads, within the quartered Transylvanian arms with family arms Kemény (stag mounting out of crown) as middle shield. Below to the sides the mint mark C - V (Colos-Vár = Klausenburg). Extremely rare, especially in this singular quality. Extremely fine to uncirculated. Beautiful patina. Tiny edge fault on rev. Cabinet piece."
Like most coins of Transylvania, this type (struck 1661 only) is expensive. As Transylvania was never part of the Holy Roman Empire and was not at this point controlled by the Hapsburgs, we have not included it in the "silver thalers of Germany." The SCWC notes many varieties for 1661, including Dav-4766, -4767, -4768, -4769 and -4770.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 57.59 g.
Catalog reference: Resch 14, Dav-A4766, KM 348.
- 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, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Rarities, Auction 25, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
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