Shooting Thalers

Since I have seen where many list members are gun owners, I though I would post these, though not exactly ancient. Does anyone else have Swiss shooting thalers?

 

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GERMAN STATES, Anhalt-Bernburg
Alexius Friedrich Christian, AR 1/3 Taler
1796-1834
1799 HS
Weight: 7.03 grams of 83.3% Silver
Obverse: Crowned-Bear advancing left on crenellated wall containing arched door below
Reverse: Three-line legend and date; •H•S• (mint-master) below
Reference: Mann 728a; Jaeger 41b, KM 70
Other: sweet patina, VF



=> Nein ... I merely have German bear!!




=> great OP-addition, Ken (cool thread idea)

... err, umm I wish I actually had something Swiss

 

Not a gun lover here, but as someone with German heritage this piqued my interest, so I read up on shooting thalers.
So apparently these were minted to commemorate Schützenfest - a shooting tournament festival (which many people associate with beer drinking). The medallions feature patriotic themes such as historical military leaders and heraldry.
Looks like a very interesting collecting specialization. I would be keen to indulge in this speciality, but unfortunately I can't buy everything.

 

Ditto! I always like to look at them, and if it weren't for these financial constraints..........

 

I dont think its any surprise that I also collect old guns. Once a collector always a collector. No, I am not some Rambo type (though I have some guns one might classify that way). I enjoy target shooting (heck, its an Olympic Sport!!!). But I also collect old things, so have old guns and enjoy shooting them. So, on to the topic. I only have the two shooting thalers. I only bought the first back in the late 80's because it was high relief, super cool, and well, just different. Some of these are uber cool, but many are quite plebeian. Maybe it depends on how well one did in the competition. Dont know. Just was looking at some things this afternoon and thought I would share.

 

One of our members has a wonderful collection in the NGC Registry.

This is my only shooting medal.

Chris

 

Nice coins. I personally have a cut off date of 1500AD for my collection, so no guns on any of my coins.

In regards to guns, I'm not a big fan of them, so I keep a bare minimum...certainly not more than what I need. My rifles are a vintage Winchester rifle (my cowboy rifle), a Russian built AK-47 (now illegal to import into the US), a Serbian Ak-47 (not sure why I have it, to be honest), a PSL sniper rifle with Soviet military optics on it (for target practice at the range), a Yugoslavian SKS rifle with bayonet and grenade launcher (my boar hunting rifle), a Marlin 22 cal rifle (for cheap plinking at the range), and a Ruger 22 cal rifle (also for plinking at the range).

As far as pistols are concerned, only a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield (my concealed carry), a Colt M-1911 (my desk drawer gun at the office for self protection), my Ruger SP 101 revolver (alternative concealed carry), my Beretta Cheetah ( for fun at the range), my Walther PPK (my concealed carry for hot days when I dress down), and a Ruger MK III (for plinking at the range).

At my former law firm my former boss was one of those gun nuts, so she actually put it in our contracts that we all had to have a gun at work for office protection, in case she needed protection from someone. I'm not joking, LOL. She even made me attend gun shows with her family every time there was one in town, which is how I started to acquire a few guns. Before that, I had never even thought about owning any firearms. She is now a circuit court judge, LOL.

As crazy as it sounds, her paranoia did come in handy once when a mentally deranged person walked in off the street, probably high on something, and attacked the receptionist. I used the grip end of my gun to strike the person over the head and knock him out, and then called the cops to come arrest him. That's Miami for you.

 

LOL we clearly do things differently in Australia! I probably know a couple of people who own one gun - legally - locked up somewhere in their houses. But as you know, we have strict gun laws. Tbh I don't think we really miss owning guns. Maybe we don't know what we're missing.

But I can see the appeal of collecting guns from history, just as I see the appeal in collecting ancient coins.

The topic does bring out political opinions outside the scope of Coin Talk, so the last thing I'll say on this: I think many (most) people here have very different political opinions to mine, and yet we can come together over ancient coins. Another thing to love about Coin Talk!

 

Yeah, people get worked up over stuff like that, but to each his own. I don't tell others how to spend their money, and I certainly don't want anyone telling me how to spend mine either.

At any rate, I haven't bought a gun in a while, and I certainly don't intend to add more. In fact, I may downsize a little.

 

I'm not an advocate of gun ownership, but if I lived in Australia, I'd at least want a shotgun. You have too many poisonous snakes down under.

Chris

 

We do. We get poisonous snakes in our gardens and we call the snake catcher when that happens. But I don't know anyone who has ever been bitten by a snake. Generally they mind their own business and are easy to spot basking in the sun. Just be careful walking in long grass.

 

I have a buddy who lives in Ocala, Florida, which is basically a tiny town out in the woods in the middle of nowhere. He keeps a revolver marketed as "The Judge" (Not sure which company makes them) which shoots shells with snake pellets, that he uses to kill ratle snakes that wander into his property. It works wonders. I've seen him use it and it gets the job done.

Personally, when I lived in northern Florida I used a machete to kill ratle snakes, but to each his own. I can see why someone would prefer a revolver over getting in close with those snakes. They can be vicious.

 

I have a couple platinum shooting talers but I can't post any pics because I'm in Cambodia right now...

 

Why don't you use a longer lens?

Chris

 

I do have some great 26x optical zoom...

 

drinking and guns, sounds like a recipe for disaster....
Sallent 1985

"Boss says I have to have 2 guitars too.....but the underwear.......... thats just me dressing down....doin ma thaing"

 

Those are beautiful thalers! I happen to be a big fan of guns and shooting and the 2nd Amendment, but don't get political on me. I can't seem to find any ancient coins with guns on them though...

 

LOL. I only have one guitar...and it's boxers, not briefs. Close enough I suppose.