Saxony 1657 1/4 thaler

Ponterio sale 169, lot 10350

photo courtesy Stack's Bowers LLC

This specimen was lot 10350 in Ponterio sale 169 (Baltimore, November 2012), where it sold for $247. The catalog description^[1] noted, "GERMANY. Saxony. 1/4 Taler, 1657. Johann Georg II (1656-80). Vicariat issue. Toned. NGC EF-45. From the Demarete Collection." Saxony, one of the larger divisions of Germany and blessed with numerous silver mines, issued large numbers of thalers. Minor coinage of the German states is much less studied and well known and many rarities remain tucked away in the catalogs with low values. This one year type was issued to honor the elector's temporary office of vicar of the empire, which office he held only after the old emperor had died and before a new one was elected. The elector also issued a half thaler (KM 458), a single thaler (Dav-7630), a double thaler (Dav-LS398), a triple thaler (Dav-LS397), a quadruple thaler (Dav-LS396), a single ducat (KM 463) and a double ducat (KM 464) on this occasion. We may assume he thought it was a big deal.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver.

Catalog reference: KM-457.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 169: The November 2012 Baltimore Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2012.

Link to:

• 1656-CR quarter thaler, Johann Georg I
• Saxony 1656 thaler Dav-7614
• 1657 half thaler, vicariat
• 1657 thaler, vicariat
• 1657-☘ double thaler, on the vicariat
• 1657 quadruple thaler, vicariat
• 1657 ducat, vicariat
• 1657 double ducat, on the vicariat
• 1660-CR quarter thaler, Johann Georg II
• Coins and currency dated 1657
• return to coins of German States, Saxony