When I enlarged the photos the first thing I uttered under my breath was WoW. The design is so detailed and beautiful. I'm starting to understand why so many folks are collecting older world coins over U.S. coins now.
If you haven't, look at my albums one of these days. The artistry that went into many of the older world coins is truly amazing.
I'm feel the same when I look at these coins and all the outstanding details it just takes your breath away, to think they could design such wonderful things like that so long ago. Bob
Regandon, I like the design. It's interesting how the Habsburg Hungarian side differs from the Austrian side from a design standpoint.
It does seem that the Hungarian side liked to show their closeness to the church. The reverse of this 1865 Bavarian Taler, used a very similar design.
regandon buddy hi my name is omar im new here and ive been looking for pricing on the 1786 couldnt find it i only found the 1782 and 1783 and there the same thing except for the two angels on the back were faceing the other way and one of there wings was on top of the crown, will i guess you know that any way if you could tell me whats the price range on it i would be very greatfull thanks.
The coins with the angels looking away, are known as sitting angels. As for the price, I realy have no idea. Maye one of the members that are a dealer can help out in area.
Beautiful 1/2 Taler regandon, I have admired these from afar for years and may need to find one for my collection. I would wager a guess that these are worth about the same as a Swiss 1/2 Taler in similiar condition.
A nice Swiss 1/2 taler from the mid 1700's in certified AU condition is a $300 coin and drops to $250 in XF. If it's been cleaned deduct at least $50. Regandons coin looks like a strong AU, maybe MS, and is easily worth $300. Possibly much more, I'm just guessing. A full Swiss taler (bigger than a Morgan silver dollar) from the mid 1700's in certified AU condition is a $600 coin. The one's from Zurich with the lion and Basel with the basilisk are works of art.
Saint Mary Mother Patron of Hungary The medieval denars carried the same devices and legend. Madonna and Child; Mary Patron of Hungary. On the other side, the shield of state. The vertical bar is the Danube. The three horizontals are the rivers, Tisza, Drava, and Szaba. I do not know the names of the three mountains. The crown of St. Stephen is at the top. Sometimes the cross is bent to show when the crown was stolen and hidden in a trunk. Other peoples, of course, sought and seek the protection of Mary Mother of God. (The Ukrainian cossacks, the Zaparosti of Taras Bulba, are another example.) It is not so much that Hungarians were closer to the church than the Austrians. It is just their patron, like St Mark for Venice, or for that matter Jesus for the Eastern Roman Empire (Constantinople). In any case, religious themes and symbols are ubiquitous. I wonder why the coin was struck. The Hapsburgs had no special reason to strike coins for Hungary, any more than they would for any of the lands abbreviated around the rim. It may be that the mintage was intended to buy things in Hungary for Hapsburg estates local there.
A beautiful coin. One of the things I enjoy about this site is getting so see so many really outstanding works of art like this.
