Austria 1748-KB thaler Dav-1156

Künker Auction 425, lot 1948

This specimen was lot 1948 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €4,000 (about US$5,664 including buyers' fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"HABSBURGISCHE ERBLANDE-ÖSTERREICH · RÖMISCH-DEUTSCHES REICH, Franz I., 1745-1765. Reichstaler 1748 KB, Kremnitz. Geharnischtes Brustbild r. mit Lorbeerkranz und umgelegtem Mantel//Gekrönter Doppeladler mit Schwert und Zepter in den Fängen, auf der Brust gekröntes, mehrfeldiges Wappen, umgeben von der Kette des Ordens vom Goldenen Vlies. Von größter Seltenheit. Patina, leicht justiert, fast vorzüglich. (Holy Roman Empire, Francis I, 1745-65, thaler of 1748, Kremnitz mint. Obverse; laureate, draped and armored bust right; reverse: crowned double headed eagle, with sword and scepter in its claws, supports manifold arms, Order chain around. Extremely rare, toned, lightly adjusted, about extremely fine.)"

This design was intended to be the standard thaler struck throughout the Hapsburg domains during the reign of emperor Franz I, husband of Maria Theresia. The type was struck 1746-50 and is common. It was minted at Karlsburg, Hall (Dav-1155), Prague (Dav-1158), Kremnitz (shown here) and Vienna (Dav-1153). The early issues (Dav-1156, 1746-50, shown here) were struck as reichs thalers and the later issues (Dav-1157, 1751-56) were struck as convention thalers (lower weight). As Kremnitz was not, strictly speaking, part of the German empire, we have also filed this type under Hungary.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specifications: 28.82 g, 0.875 fine silver, this specimen 27,96 g.

Catalog reference: KM 2037, Dav-1156; Herinek 165; Huszar 1786.

Sources:

• Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
• Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
• Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.

Links:

• 1747-KB thaler, Francis I
• 1748-HA 6 kreuzer, Hall mint, Francis I
• 1748 thaler, Prague mint, Maria Theresia
• 1748 half ducat, Vienna mint
• 1751-WI thaler, Francis I
• 1754-KB thaler, Kremnitz mint
• Coins and currency dated 1748