Transylvania 1681-AI thaler Dav-4820
This specimen was lot 1772 in Sincona sale 76 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 16,000 CHF (about US$19,421 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN, Siebenbergen. Michael Apafi, 1661-1690. Taler 1681 AI, Weissenburg. . Dav-4820. Sehr selten, besonders in dieser Erhaltung. Vorzüglich-FDC. NGC MS61. Prachtexemplar mit herrlicher Patina. (Hungary, Transylvania, Michael Apafi, thaler of 1681, Weissenburg mint. Very rare, especially in this condition, Extremely fine-uncirculated, Cabinet piece with magnificent patina.)"
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. Square (KM A490) and hexagonal (KM 490) klippes exist for this date.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.85 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-4820; Resch 241, KM-492.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 76, The Annemarie and Gerd Köhlmoos Collection, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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