Worms (1625) 2 thaler Dav-LS517
This specimen was lot 30293 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $26,400. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Worms 2 Taler - The Davenport and Standard Catalog Plate Coin. German States: Worms. Bishopric 2 Taler ND (1625) AU50 NGC. A rare city-view type produced on the 100th anniversary of the Council of 13, and an offering notable for its use as the plate coin in both the Standard Catalog of World Coins and John S. Davenport's Large Size Silver Coins of the World. Itself an implicit nod to the scarcity of the type, which would otherwise leave ample material to draw upon for plating, this honorary placement may also be indicative of the strong quality of the specimen at hand. Indeed, the coin on offer here appears much finer than the example held by the Staatliche Münzkabinett in Berlin. Expansive in size and scope, with a serene steel tone that blankets the surfaces, the image projected is one of inspiring character and appeal. Crimson iridescence is held within the outer registers, providing a pleasing visual frame for the prominent city-view, which is crowned at the top by the arms of the city, clasped by a pair of winged dragons. Though signs of circulation are evident, underlying mint luster expresses itself across the fields, glistening upon rotation and confirming only moderate use in exchange before being stowed away for generations. All said, a rare opportunity to acquire this fleeting issue, and perhaps the only one that bidders will encounter for a very long time. From the Paramount Collection."
This commeorative was accompanied by KM 80 (thaler), Dav-LS518 (1½ thaler), KM 82/Dav-516 (3 thaler) and KM 83/Dav-LS515 (4 thaler). Worms neighbored Pfalz but was never part of it, being a free city. It was destroyed by the French in 1689 and never recovered its former importance. It was annexed to France 1801-15 but then passed to Hesse-Darmstadt.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 56.45 g.
Catalog reference: KM 81 (this coin), Dav-LS517 (same), Madai-5154 (weight not given), von Schluthess-Rechberg Collection-7276 (RRR), Joseph-338c.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Davenport, John S., Large Size Silver Coins of the World, 16th-19th Centuries, 3rd Ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1991.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to:
- 1619 ducat
- 1623 thaler
- Worms 1651-ET ducat Fr-3537
- Worms 1709-IL thaler Dav-2846, groundbreaking of the new city hall
- Coins and currency dated 1625
- return to coins of German States, Pfalz