German States (Saxony, Albertinian line): 1564-HB silver thaler of Augustus, Elector of Saxony

German States (Saxony, Albertinian line): 1564-HB silver thaler of Augustus, Elector of Saxony

NGC XF details (cleaned). Cert. #2183137-001.

Numista-53745, Davenport-9795.

Ex-Andy Mirski, at Table 553 at the 2026 FUN convention, Orlando, Florida, 10 January 2026. Purchased raw.

This handsome large silver thaler was struck under the authority of Augustus, Elector of Saxony, who was one of the rulers of the Albertinian Line under the powerful Habsburg Dynasty. The thaler is the ancestor of the world's subsequent large silver coins, and it is from "thaler" that the word "dollar" had its origins.

I have long liked this particular type, with the ruler in profile holding a sword over his right shoulder and a mace in his left hand. It is a very martial design. The intricate coats of arms on coins of this era are also interesting. I liked the eye appeal of this particular example. It has light toning and a slightly doubled strike.

Before buying it, I examined the edge closely for any traces of old jewelry mounts, as that is an issue with so many old thaler coins, and I was wary of receiving a "details" grade from NGC after submitting it to them at the show. As it came to pass, that wasn't the problem. NGC indeed gave it a "details" grade, but for cleaning rather than mount removal. I was disappointed. It should come as no surprise that a coin more than 460 years old got cleaned once upon a time. What disappointed me was that NGC did not deem this light cleaning to be "market acceptable" and give the coin a straight grade. (I've seen worse in straight-graded holders.) This presented me with a dilemma. I generally avoid "details" graded coins in my collection. But I like this one enough that I'm making an exception for it.



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