Transylvania 1672-CI BI thaler Dav-4798
This specimen was lot 3650 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 32,000 CHF (about US$48,231 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Michael Apafi, 1661-1690. Taler 1672 CI-BI, Hermannstadt. (Rosette) MICHA:APAFI:D:G:PRIN:TRANSIL. Geharnischtes Hüftbild nach rechts mit geschultertem Zepter. Rv. PAR:REG:HV:DO - (Rosette) ET:SIC:CO:16.72 Gekröntes Wappen von Siebenbürgen mit dem Apafi'schen Mittelschild in einer Verzierung zwischen CI-BI, unten das Hermannstädter Wappen. Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Hübsche Patina. (Hungary, principality of Transylvania, Michael Apafi, 1661-90, thaler of 1672, Hermannstadt mint. Obverse: armored half-length bust right with scepter; reverse: crowned arms of Transylvania with the escutcheon of Apafi dividing the initials "CI BI". Very rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Attractively toned.)"
The SCWC incorrectly assigns initials "AC" to this type. Michael Apafi was a Ottoman puppet in the three-way war between the Austrians, the Turks and the native elite. On his death, he willed his principality to emperor Leopold of Austria, who was in the process of conquering Hungary from the Turks. All of Apafi's thalers, including this type, are rare and expensive. The SCWC reports at least eleven different thalers for 1672 (KM 414, KM 424, KM 425 (shown here), KM 426, KM 427, KM 428, KM 428A, KM 429, KM 430, KM 430A, KM 430B). Hermannstadt is now Sibiu in the Transylvanian Alps.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.77 g.
Catalog reference: KM 425, Resch 101, Huszar 754, Dav-4798.
- 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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