Transylvania 1684-AI thaler Dav-4820A
This specimen was lot 1132 in Sincona Auction 100 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 50,000 CHF (about US$75,360 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Michael Apafi, 1661-1690. Talerklippe 1684/3 AI, Alba Iulia (Weissenburg). Jahreszahl im Stempel aus 1683 geändert. MICHAEL.APAFI.DEI.GRATIA.PRINC.TRANS Geharnischtes Hüftbild nach rechts mit geschultertem Zepter. Rv. PAR REG HVNGARI(AE) - DO:ET:SI:COMES 1684 Gekröntes Wappen von Siebenbürgen mit dem Apafi'schen Mittelschild in einer verzierten Kartusche, unten im kleinen Schild A-I. Von grösster Seltenheit. Vorzüglich. Hübsche Patina. (principality of Transylvania, Michael Apafi, 1661-90, klippe thaler of 1684, Alba Julia mint, 1684/3 overdate. Obverse: armored half-length bust right with a scepter resting on the shoulder; reverse: crowned arms of Transylvania with the escutcheon of Apafi. Of the highest rarity, Extremely Fine, Attractively toned.)"
This klippe thaler was struck 1681-86 and all dates are rare. Michael Apafi was a Ottoman puppet in the three-way war between the Austrians, the Turks and the native elite. He was the last prince of Transylvania who was not a Hapsburg.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28.59 g.
Catalog reference: KM 490, Resch 254, Huszar 719, Dav-4820A.
- 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 100: SINCONA Jubilee Auction, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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