Transylvania 1678-AI 3 thaler Dav-4816
This specimen was lot 3652 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Michael Apafi, 1661-1690. 3 Taler 1678 AI, (Karlsburg). MICH PAFI. - D: - G:PRIN:TR· Geharnischtes Hüftbild nach rechts mit Pelzmütze und geschultertem Zepter. Rv. PAR:REG:HUN:Do - ET:SIC:CO(ME)S.·1678 Gekröntes Wappen; darunter AI. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Vorzüglich. Vermutlich spätere Prägung aus dem 19. Jahrhundert / Exemplar der Auktion Gorny & Mosch 250, München, Oktober 2017, Los 3425. (Hungary, principality of Transylvania, Michael Apafi, 1661-90, triple thaler of 1678, Karlsburg mint. Obverse: half-length bust right with fur cap and scepter; reverse: crowned arms, initials "AI" below. Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen, extremely Fine, probably a later strike from the 19th century.)"
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. None of the major references list this issue; the catalog numbers given below are for the single thaler struck from these dies. It's possible that this example is merely a later mint sport.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 84.08 g.
Catalog reference: KM 465B (single thaler), Huszar see 732a (Thaler), Resch see 230 (Thaler), Dav-4816 (single thaler).
- 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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