Transylvania 1679-AI thaler Dav-4818
This specimen was lot 2103 in Sincona sale 66 (Zürich, October 2020), where it sold for 10,000 CHF (about US$13,165 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SIEGENBURGEN, Fürstentum, Michael Apafi, 1661-1690. Taler 1679 AI, Weissenburg (Gyulafehérvár). Ohne Löwenkopfschulter. Sehr selten. Fast vorzüglich. (principality of Transylvania, Michael Apafi, 1661-1690, thaler of 1679, Weissenburg mint, without lion's head on shoulder. Very rare, About extremely fine.)"
Michael Apafi was the last native ruler of Transylvania. 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 struck 1678-80, are rare and expensive.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.37 g.
Catalog reference: KM 474A, Huszar 732, Resch 234, Dav-4818.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- 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 66, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, featuring the Claude Stritt Collection, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2020.
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