Murbach and Luders 1544 thaler Dav-9586
This specimen was lot 1319 in Jean Elsen sale 161 (Brussels, March 2025), where it sold for €1,200 (about US$1,563 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE, Jean-Rodolphe Stoer de Stoerenbourg (1542-1570), AR Taler, 1544, Saint-Amarin. Au titre de Charles Quint (1506-1555). D/ Écu mitré de Murbach et de Stoer avec en cœur l'écusson de Lure, posé sur deux crosses en sautoir. R/ Aigle impériale couronnée. Rare. Coup sur la tranche. (France, John Rudolf of Störenberg, 1542-70, silver thaler of 1544, St.-Amarin mint, struck in the name of Charles V (1506-55). Obverse: mitred arms of Murbach and Störenberg with the escutcheon of Lure over crossed croziers; reverse: crowned imperial eagle. Rare, edge nick, Very Fine.)
Il s'agit de la toute première émission des princes-abbés de Murbach et de Lure, auxquels Charles Quint décerne cette année le privilège de frapper monnaie, ce qu'ils font jusqu'en 1667. Cela leur est possible grâce aux importants gisements d'argent situés sur leur territoire et en particulier sur celui de l'Abbaye de Lure. La frappe a lieu jusqu'en 1581 dans l'hôtel des monnaies installé à Saint-Amarin, chef-lieu de la vallée, où réside alors le représentant de l'abbé. Provient de la collection Voltz, Münzen & Medaillen, Bâle, vente 82, 25 mars 1996, 354. (This is the very first issue of the Prince-Abbots of Murbach and Lure, to whom Charles V granted the privilege of minting coins this year, which they did until 1667. This was possible thanks to the significant silver deposits located on their territory and in particular on that of the Abbey of Lure. Minting took place until 1581 in the mint located in Saint-Amarin, the capital of the valley, where the abbot's representative resided at the time. From the Voltz collection, Münzen & Medaillen, Basel, sale 82, March 25, 1996, 354.)"
This obscure issue of 1544-60 is from the long-vanished Abbey of Murbach and Luders in upper Alsace. Double thalers also exist. The region is now firmly part of France. Numista states these should have two digit dates but this example and the 1547 shown here both have four digit dates.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 28,68 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB4, Divo, Murbach, 1 (plate coin); Dav-9586.
- 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.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Gernot Schnee, Sächsiche Taler, 1500-1800. Frankfurt Am Main, P. N. Schulten, 1982.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 161, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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