Worms 1709-IL thaler Dav-2846
This specimen was lot 31221 in Heritage sale 3105 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $16,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "German States: Worms. Free City Medallic Taler ND (1709)-IL MS64+ NGC, Heidelberg mint. Date in chronogram. A popular one year type and the only Taler from 18th century Worms, commemorating the laying of the foundation stone at the Holy Trinity Church. Boasting a captivating arrangement of lovely patina and revealing a large degree of subdued glasslike luster. Among the finest specimens from a series that trades hands only once every few years and almost never this fine. From the Cape Coral Collection, Part II." The free city of Worms, on the Rhine, was surrounded by the Electorate of the Palatinate. 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. The SCWC notes that this was issued to commemorate the groundbreaking of the new city hall. The building on the reverse doesn't look particularly ecclesiastical, so we side with the SCWC.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM 135, Dav-2846.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 January 9 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction - New York #3105, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
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