Friedland 1626 thaler Dav-3439
This specimen was lot 1380 in Künker sale 293 (Osnabruck, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €16,000 (about US$21,565 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"WALLENSTEIN, Albrecht, 1623-1634, Herzog von Friedland. Reichstaler 1626, Jitschin. Geharnischtes Brustbild fast v. v. mit umgelegtem Mantel, unten Münzmeisterzeichen Sonne mit Gesicht in Klammern (Georg Reick, Münzmeister in Jitschin 1626-1630)//Mit Fürstenhut bedeckter Schild zwischen zwei Kreuzrosetten, darin gekrönter Adler mit vierfeldigem Wappen auf der Brust. RR Attraktives Exemplar mit hübscher Patina, sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Albrecht of Wallenstein, duke of Friedland, thaler of 1626, Jitschin mint. Obverse: armored and mantled bust; reverse: ducal hat over shield with eagle supporting fourfold arms divides two crucifixes. Rare, attractive example with handsome patina, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Wallenstein was born into the minor Protestant nobility of Bohemia but converted to Catholicism while attending university in Italy. Seeking glory, he pursued a military career and eventually became the commander of the imperial troops during the Thirty Years War. His successes against the Protestants aroused the suspicion of the emperor and he was dismissed in 1630. He retired to his duchy of Friedland in northern Bohemia. Imperial defeats at the hands of Gustavus Adolphus forced the emperor to recall him but distrust of his loyalty remained. He was assassinated by his officers with the emperor's connivance in 1634. He issued thalers 1626-33, all rare. After Wallenstein's death, the duchy subsided into insignificance and no more coins were issued.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29,08 g.
Catalog reference: KM 10, Nohejlová-Prátová 4, Dav-3439.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 293: Münzen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. die westfälischen Privatsammlungen Werner Bröker und Bernd Terletzki, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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