Denmark 1603 speciedaler Dav-3511
This specimen was lot 1015 in Stack's Bowers sale of the L. E. Bruun Collection (Copenhagen, September 2024), where it sold for €55,200 (about US$61,173 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Magnificent Enthroned Speciedaler of Christian IV, DENMARK. Speciedaler, 1603. Copenhagen Mint. Christian IV. NGC AU-53. Engraved by Nicolaus Schwabe. EXCESSIVELY RARE with only three known in private hands. The technical grade assigned seems somewhat conservative as this example is impressively detailed from center to edge with superb tone and evident luster in the fields, particularly on the reverse -- in fact, it is one of the most beautifully preserved Talers from the early reign of Christian IV in existence across all types. Over the canopy above the throne can be seen the latin inscription: VIVAT ET VALEAT ("May he live and be strong")."
Other speciedalers for 1603 include KM 18/Dav-A3512 and KM 19/Dav-3512. Christian IV (r. 1588-1648) had a long but only moderately successful reign. His war with Sweden and his intervention in the Thirty Years War were costly and brought little gain.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 29.23 g, 0.888 fine silver, this specimen 27.29 g.
Catalog reference: KM-17; Dav-3511; Hede-49; Sieg-98; Schou-5; Bruun-4647.
- 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.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio, Jeremy Bostwick and Henrik Holt Christensen, The L. E. Bruun Collection - A Corpus of Scandinavian Monetary History Part I, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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