Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken 1759-IM thaler Dav-2550
This specimen was lot 3312 in Sincona sale 39 (Zurich, May 2017), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$240 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken, Christian IV. 1735-1775 Taler 1759. Zweibrücken. Sehr schön. (palatinate of Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken, Christian IV, 1735-75, thaler of 1759, Zweibrucken mint. Very fine.)"
Most of the issues from this insignificant state are rare but this type of 1759-60 is actually fairly common. Disentangling the various branchs of the Wittelsbach family, rulers of Bavaria and the Palatinate, is more trouble than it's worth. Pfalz-Zweibrucken, created in 1459, was merged with Pfalz-Birkenfeld in 1734, creating Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Zweibrucken, which lasted one generation until the death of Christian IV in 1775, whereupon it passed to the count Palatine. When Maximilian III of Bavaria died in 1777, the count inherited Bavaria as well, uniting all the Wittelsbach lands, which union lasted until 1918.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.06 g, 0.833 fine silver, this specimen 27.63 g.
Catalog reference: Schuler 65; Dav-2550; KM 31.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 39, World coins and medals, coins and medals from Switzerland, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
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