Gem 1603 German (Teutonic Order) Taler - Grand Master Archduke Maximilian

I'm working on a denomination set (1/4T, 1/2T, 1T, 2T, 3T, & 4T) of this design. I still need the 3T & 4T which don't come up for sale often and I'm looking for a nice unc 1/2T to upgrade my current AU example.

This obverse features Grand Master Archduke Maximilian of Austria standing between Austrian shield and helmet. The reverse features an armored Knight in circle of 14 shields plus a large shield of the Order, domiciled at Mergentheim, Württemberg.

The coin is basically gem and is graded MS64 by NGC. Very nice luster for a 400+ year old coin. The surfaces are nice and mark free and the strike is excellent.

 

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Very cool. Have to put one (or more ) on my want list.

 

Thaler.

Gmarguli,are you sure that this Thaler was issued by the Teutonic Order? I know that the last coins to be issued by the Teutonic Order were issued in 1780 to commemorate the death of the Grand Master.

Aidan

 

It's listed in the Davenport & Krause as Teutonic Order. Also, Krause shows two coins minted in 1801 under the Teutonic Order.

 

A cracker of a coin!

....but boy, you'll certainly have your work cut out for you in building that set! The multiples aren't exactly cheap either WHEN and IF you can find 'em.

I thought I was doing well in getting my hands on a couple of Teutonic Order talers. My ones are 1610 and 1612. Similar, but subtly different obverse designs and legends.

 

I passed on a 3T that recently sold for around $2200 in a European auction. I wasn't too thrilled with the condition. It looked like a VF35/EF40. That was the first one I've seen sold in quite a while.

I've examined many of these coins and found quite a few different legends. Nothing major, but usually just one or two letters spaced out differently. That's one of the things I love about old coins.

 

With coins that age there's rarely two the same. That's when you really discover the limitations of books like Davenport, De May and Bachtell. Great for illustrative purposes....but.

The 1603, 1610 and 1612 have sufficient differences according to Bachtell that they are provided with separate references. I think the 1603 is the better design, and ione that will no doubt come my way eventually. (I can be patient).

That 3 T you mention. It wasn't one of Kricheldorf's auctions by any chance was it?


Ian

 

Nope. It was in a Rauch auction earlier this month.

 

That must have been item D1301 you are talking about (?)...the dreifascher taler with a reserve of 1,000 euro(?) If so, I can see why you weren't taken with it,.... but it is still a pretty neat collectable coin. My standards are lower and as such I would most definitely give it a home (if I had the significant readdies available that is). By the way, I would agree with their grading of almost VF. Too much wear to be VF anything IMHO.

There was (as always) some pretty neat stuff in the Rauch auction. I usually look through the catalogue within the first 24 hrs of receiving it, marking out my targets then emailing my bids. I had computer problems in March and my normal routine was disrupted. It was the 11th April before I realised i'd screwed up. Bummer!

 

Yep, that's the one. Too much wear and a few rim problems for that one to make me want to spend a couple thousand.

 

Drooling slowly LOL that is a cracking coin :thumb: :thumb:

De Orc