Trier 1591 thaler Dav-9923
The first specimen was lot 873 in Sincona sale 6 (Zürich, May 2012), where it sold for 2,800 CHF (about US$3,445 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Trier, Erzbistum Johann VII. von Schönenberg, 1581-1599. Taler 1591, Koblenz. Der hl. Petrus mit Schlüssel und Buch nach links schreitend. Rv. Wappen unter Mitra, besteckt mit Bischofsstab und Schwert, zu den Seiten 9 – 1. Fast sehr schön-sehr schön. (Archbishopric of Trier, John VII of Schönenberg, 1581-1599, thaler of 1591, Koblenz mint. Obverse: St. Peter with key and book strides to left; reverse: arms below biship's miter, bishop's crozier and sword behind, dividing "91". Very fine.)"
This specimen was lot 30337 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted,
"GERMANY. Trier. Taler, 1591. Johann VII (1581-99). NGC MS-62. EXTREMELY RARE and possibly UNIQUE. The coin presented here is in exceptional condition, and likely the finest extant. The large silver Taler depicts Saint Peter striding left with the key to heaven on the obverse. On the reverse, a mitre atop the combined arms of Trier and Schönenberg. Struck under Johann von Schönenberg (Archbishop-Elector of Trier) at the height of the Trier witch trials and as such of extraordinary historic significance. A great admirer of the Jesuits and a leading figure in the counter-reformation, Johann von Schönenberg spearheaded the mass killing of three hundred sixty-eight in the cities and towns surrounding Trier, with perhaps as many as one thousand souls in the diocese as a whole eventually facing execution. Of the twenty-two villages near Trier purged of witches, two villages were left with only a single female survivor. No one was immune from the accusation of witchcraft and sorcery with a third of the victims coming from nobility, though special emphasis was directed towards Jews and Protestants. Much of the slaughter was driven purely from greed, as examiner and executioner alike prospered from seized property of the accused. From a very troubled time in Europe, the coin offered presents a terrific opportunity to own a piece of sixteenth century German cultural history, albeit dark and morose from any perspective."
The city of Trier was founded by the Romans and was used as a a capital by several emperors in late antiquity. It became a prince-bishopric during the middle ages whose archbishop was one of the electors of the empire. The territory was annexed by France during the Revolution and was incorporated into the Prussian Rhineland after the Congress of Vienna. This type was also struck in 1593.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver; this specimen is 28,41 g.
Catalog reference: von Schrötter 62 var., Dav-9923, MB-101.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1500-1600, Frankfurt am Main, Numismatischer Verlag P. N. Schulten, 1979.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 6, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
- [2]Ponterio, Richard, The August 2015 Chicago ANA Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2015.
Link to:
- Cologne 1574 thaler Dav-9155
- Trier (1599-1623)-T pfennig, Lothar von Metternich
- 1617-LS thaler
- Coins and currency dated 1591
- return to coins of German States, Trier