Saxony 1553 thaler Dav-9787

Stack's Bowers 2023 ANA sale, lot 52254

This specimen was lot 52254 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $660. The catalog description^[1] noted, "GERMANY. Saxony. Taler, 1553. Annaberg Mint. Moritz. NGC AU-53. Though some minor striking weakness is observed, this wholesome and entirely original crown offers a delightful gunmetal gray tone and some subtle deeper hues further accentuating the devices. From the Augustana Collection." The electorate of Saxony was partitioned into the Ernestine and Albertine lines in 1485. The Ernestine elector participated in a league against the emperor and lost his electoral cap as a result, which cap was awarded in 1547 to the Albertine duke along with some territory. The new elector issued numerous thalers in 1553, including KM MB100, 118 (shown here, struck 1548-53), 120, 144, 145, 146 and 148.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver.

Catalog reference: Dav-9787; KM-MB118.

Source:

• 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.
• Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800, Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

• 1552 thaler, Annaberg mint, Moritz
• 1553 double thaler, Saalfeld mint, Johann Friedrich I
• 1554 half thaler
• 1554 thaler, Annaberg mint, hatted bust
• Coins and currency dated 1553