A while ago we had an exchange about the falling value of the Taler over the centuries. I was looking today at this 1774 Anhalt mining Taler. As was typical of the mining Talers of the Harz region, even in the late 18th century it was struck in Feinsilber (fine silver, in theory .993 pure, although the silver itself was not completely pure so in practice it might be closer to .95. ). However, to offset the fine silver, it weighs only 23.32 g. With a 38 mm diameter, I think it still qualifies for this Silver Crown-size thread. Germany ANHALT-BERNBURG-HAYM-SCHAUMBURG Carl Ludwig Mining Konventionstaler 1774 From Holzappel mine.
That's a beautiful mining thaler. Regarding crowns the somewhat lax standard used was that these coins could be from 20.0 grams and above. Also this piece illustates the process behind the coins: the mining itself! A very nice piece of history. Sadly I can't collect Germanic thalers due to finances and too many areas of collecting already. Hopefully you got this piece?
1559 Zurich taler, variety with 2 dots after date, mintmaster Hans Jakob Stampfer. The coin was in a lot with a large bronze medal and to my surprise i won it for 80£(120£ with delivery and fees), but was really suspicious since there were no higher bidds, thinking that maybe it's not a genuine piece. Once i received it, i checked the weight, 27.7, a bit underweight for the type, but managed to find a taler ,with the same weight sold by Sincona. Last night i must have spent 40 min comparing it mm by mm with that Sincona piece and another one from Heritage and now i'm pretty sure it's genuine. I must say that the strike of this taler seems so ahead of its time!
Here are some that I don't think I have shared before. Frankfurt 1861 2 Thaler Obverse: Laureate bust right Obverse Legend: FREIE STADT FRANKFURT Reverse: Crowned eagle with wings open Reverse Legend: ZWEI VEREINSTHALER. XV EIN PFUND FEIN Composition: Silver Fineness: 0.9000 Weight: 37.0400g ASW: 1.0717oz Hamburg 1875 5 Mark Obverse: Helmeted arms with lion supporters Obverse Legend: FREIE UND HANSESTADT HAMBURG Reverse: Type I Reverse Legend: DEUTSCHES REICH 1876, FUNF MARK below Composition: Silver Fineness: 0.9000 Weight: 27.7770g ASW: 0.8037oz Lubeck 1752 48 Schilling Obverse: Crowned imperial eagle, large 48 in circle on breast, oval shield of mayor's arms in baroque frame below Obverse Legend: MON • NOVA • IMP • - CIVITAT • LUBECÆ • Reverse: Small shield of city arms in symmetrical baroque frame, date at end of legend Reverse Legend: 48 • SCHILLING • COURANT • - GELDT • ANNO • Note: Ref. B-291; Dav. 2420D. Arms of Mayor Heinrich Rust (1750-57). Composition: Silver Fineness: 0.7500 Weight: 27.5100g
It looks genuine to me. Congratulations on a real bargain ! All the Stampfer designs are so attractive
Looks like I do have the odd crown as part of trying to complete typesets - it does tend to be the last coin I get though! This time Napoleon from Italy.
I have been trying to reply on Chris B's Frankfurt 1861 2 Taler but I am doing something wrong since my comment is never visible, so here it is for what it's worth in a separate post.. This is an interesting example of the sad story of the long depreciation and decline of the Taler. A Double Reichstaler in the old days would have weighed about 57 g and contained 51.96 g of silver compared to this coin's 37 g and silver content of 33.336 g. But it is still a beautiful coin.
1589 Piastra, Ferdinando I de Medici, not the best obv., but not unusual for the type, better rev. though, with good details. Ex Pandolfini, Romanumismatics, Vitangelo Collection. I was suppose to have a Nassau taler to show also, from the last Bertolami auction, but it's been three weeks since they confirmed receiving my payment and still no coin, whilst i'm being passed from one department to another, when asking what on earth is going on.
Picked this up off of Heritage last night. It is a nice companion piece for my 1780 restrike. Obverse: Bust right in decorated gown Obverse Legend: M • THERESIA • D: G • R • IMP • GE • HU • BO • REG • Reverse: Crowned imperial double eagle with crowned arms on breast Reverse Legend: ARCHID • AUST • DUX • BU • COM • TYR • Ruler: Maria Theresa Note: Dav. #1121 Composition: Silver Fineness: 0.8330 Weight: 28.0600g