Passau 1519 batzen
This specimen was lot 2948 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted,
"PASSAU: Ernst von Bayern, 1517-1541, AR batzen, 1519, a historic lovely lustrous mint state example! PCGS graded MS63, ex Joe Sedillot Collection. Also known as Ernst of Bavaria, he was a member of the Bavarian noble Wittelsbach family. He was the third son of Duke Albert IV of Bavaria-Munich and his wife Kunigunde, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Frederich III. Although Ernst had not been ordained, he was appointed Administrator of the Diocese of Passau after the death of Bishop Fröschl in 1517. As administrator of Passau, Ernst opposed the followers of Martin Luther and was against the Anabaptists. In 1522, he participated in the Provincial Synod in Mühldorf am Inn and in 1527 he took part in the conference in Salzburg. In 1524 he joined an alliance between the South German bishops, the dukes of Bavaria and the Archduke Ferdinand to enforce the Edict of Worms. On his instigation, the Reformer Leonhard Kaiser was handed over to the secular authorities in 1527 and burned at the stake in Schärding, then part of the district of Burghausen. Even as Archbishop-designate, Ernst delayed his ordination. In his will, dated September 25, 1550, he explained that he had never intended to become a priest. He repeatedly asked the Pope for dispensation of the higher orders, but this was finally denied in 1554. The Pope presented him with the choice of being ordained immediately or resignation. Ernst opted to resign and on July 16, 1554 he left to his successor, Michael of Kuenburg."
This type was struck 1517-24, 1527-29 and is somewhat scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.09 g, silver, 26 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-MB33, Saurma-1009.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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