I've been eyeing this specimen for about a year. Frankfurt, 1859, Memorial Thaler, Centennial of the birth of Schiller, KM# 359. Johann Christoph Friedrich Schiller was, a German poet, dramatist and literary theorist. Schiller's poem, "Ode to Joy" formed the text basis for the choral and solo parts of Beethoven's famous 9th Symphony. I've been fortunate to have sung with an orchestral choir this beautiful classical piece twice and it remains one of my favorite classical pieces I've ever gotten to sing! So, my first thaler with a connection too!
Truly a sublime piece of music. And a nice coin! I like the eagles on those Frankfurt coins. Gives me goosebumps when the choir really gets going. I can imagine what a thrill it must be to perform in such a choir. (Hmm. Maybe not the best clip selection on my part. Ends rather abruptly.)
It's wonderful, the whole choir, soloists, the orchestra! Really gets the adrenaline going! I love the Frankfurt eagle too!
I'd love to see this in concert some day, with a good choir. Our symphony here is really good, but the choir in Charleston that plays with our symphony is dreadfully dull and lifeless. Really cool coin! What does the reverse say?
EIN GEDENKTHALER ZU SCHILLER'S HUNDERTJÄHRIGER GEBURTSFEIER A Memorial Thaler for Schiller's Centenary Birth Celebration This coin was minted to celebrate his birth (1759). He died in 1805. I actually like this tradition. If you wait until a hundred years after a person dies to mint a coin, there would be fairly few that actually knew the person still living. Seems much better to celebrate a birth than a death.
