Bavaria 1865 thaler Dav-609

from Steve Album sale 27, lot 1352

This specimen was lot 1352 in Stephen Album sale 27 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2017), where it sold for $188. The catalog description^[1] noted, "BAVARIA: Ludwig II, 1864-1886, AR thaler, 1865. Some hairlines, somewhat prooflike, Unc." This thaler was issued 1864-66 in substantial quantities but is scarce compared to the Madonna thalers issued at the same time (Dav-611). Bavaria continued to issue coins using the united empire standard in the denominations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 mark until 1918 when the empire collapsed at the end of World War One. The old thalers continued to circulate as three mark pieces. King Ludwig II ruled until 1886, when he was deposed in favor of his brother. Disliked for his extravagance and his homosexuality, he died soon after under very mysterious circumstances.

Recorded mintage: 1,144,000.

Specification: 18.52 g, 0.900 fine silver, this specimen 18.52 g.

Catalog reference: Dav-609, KM 869 (formerly KM 481).

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
• Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 27, featuring the Dr. Paul Stevens Collection of Indian Coins, Part VI, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2016.

Link to:

• 1859 thaler
• 1861 double thaler
• (1864) gold gulden, for the New Year
• (1864) gold gulden
• 1865 double thaler
• 1866 thaler, Ludwig II with parted hair
• 1866 thaler, Ludwig II without part
• 1867 thaler, Madonna reverse
• Coins and currency dated 1865
• return to coins of German States, Bavaria