Here is a current picture of a coin I'd posted a couple of years ago and wanted to share it the newer members who collect thalers and other large European coins. It was poorly cleaned in the past and that's one of the reason (no doubt) that I could have afforded it, LOL... Take Care Ben
I love this guys coins, the portraits are great and some of his medals in high relief are true works of art.... BTW...those are not cavemen but 'wildmen'...a small difference I know but they are very prevailant in europe on crests and they have a long history and mythos: The Wildman of the woods (Wilder Mann) or Savage Man. The Wild man is a universal concept that exists in most cultures and is often depicted as a giant man, either naked or dressed in leaves, sometimes hairy like an animal, often armed with a club. The Wild Man is a common theme in art and literature as a personification of the savagery of nature and is particularly prevalent in the German culture appearing on coins or supporting heraldic crests. The image of the Wild Man is especially prevalent around forested, untamed areas such as Harz. Such Wild Men appear in fairy tales and myths all over the world and throughout time such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of Merlin, Grimm fairly tales in the story 'de wild man' and other folklores and legends. There is even a city in Upper Harz founded by ore miners called Wildemann after the legend that states a Wild Man and Woman were spotted living in the area, The man was shot with and arrow and captured. He later died of his wounds and where he died silver was found. More often represented as legend and myth, used in folk lore as mountain and forest spirits, bestial foes, or the personification of the rigors of untamed nature. Most likely wild men have existed through time, living in the forest, away from civilization that would soon encroach on his territory. The myths and legends are partly based on these people who civilization never reached and have lived outside human society, untamed in nature. These stories and legends mention not just wild men, but wild women and even wild children such as Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome who were raised by a wolf or Mowgli of the Jungle Book. Wild Men appear as characters in legends, in fairy tales, and literature. They Appear in works of art from various artist such as Albrecht Dürer, they appear in wall carpets, glass paintings, and heraldic art
Yes, the medals are magnificent-I almost bought one in Germany, and had to remind myself that I only collect COINS.
Drusus - that thaler is one of my all time favorites - I often drool over a photo of it I got off of Wikipedia. Can you tell me a little bit about it? And (gulp) what one could expect to pay for such a coin? Thank you so much! Henrik
For a Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. silver Taler, 1629. Friedrich Ulrich, 1613-1634. Rev: Coat-of-arms w/ helmets. Obv: Wildman. Goslar mint; Henning Schlülter, mintmaster. Worth maybe 400-500 USD in good shape?
