Largest Circulating Silver Coin Ever

There is a uncirculated version of my proof coin of which I have too.

 

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Impressive.
However, since there is only 15 of them, they can't be circulated coins.

Besides, you'd have to hire someone to carry it for you, and hire someone else to "break me off a piece"......when you spend part of it.

 

I have the BU version, but it is copper-nickel, mintage-2,608 , 45mm

 

Love that 50 reales. Gorgeous coin.

 

I always thought that the largest circulating silver coin was the Mexico Cuauhtemoc 5 peso coin minted in 1947 and 1948 which was 40 mm in diameter and weighed 30 gm.

 

What about their current 100 peso coins? Are they the same size? I've heard they don't circulate in general (or didn't circulate in general, past tense?) but some probably did. They are beautiful coins btw

 

@Black Friar I agree that 50 reales is awesome......I went online to check prices....well guess I'll need to hit a windfall to buy one! haha

 

Hi Eduard & Black Friar,
Actually the Spanish 50 Pesetas of the 1600's is another large famous circulating (?) coin that I'm always on the lookout to see if one will sell cheaply. You're right they're rare & expensive but about 10 years ago a beat up specimen of the most common date 1626? sold for around 10K (I think) at the Sedwick's Auctions.

I may be giving a talk there for their November conference, auction, & get together, but on ancients.

 

A massive 1620 Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 10 taler was sold in a Heritage auction in Aug 2016. Weight of 286g but I am not sure of the diameter. 100 mm based on notes in Krause guides.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/brunswick-.../a/3048-29022.s?ic4=ListView-Thumbnail-071515

If this is not impressive enough, I see reference to a 1588 16 taler piece from Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel which weighs 465 g. I am unable to find any sale references in the last few decades

 

The largest circulating silver coin was the one used to cash in my check to the IRS

 

@wcg My goodness, imagine lugging around a 10 thaler in your pockets!! Thats a amazing coin!!

 

Many of the multiple thalers that are mentioned here were not intended
to circulate. Their main purpose was for the ruling Duke or Prince to
have a large amounts of silver at a moments notice. Here's how it worked.
The Duke or Prince would have property owners to purchase these large
"coins" according to the property owners land value. The property
owners were not allowed to spend these pieces. They could be requested
at a moments notice. The Duke or Prince would exchange them for debased
small fractional currency and then they would have high quality silver to
pay the troops in case of war. For the most part the multiple thalers that
survive today are valued at "5" or less. It is a rare occasion for larger
pieces to come to auction. The Preussag Collection was auctioned a few
years ago by Kunker and London Coin Galleries. It had many dozen
multiple thalers including many 5+ thaler values. A few years ago Donald
Kagin let me hold and inspect a 10 Thaler piece. It was a fun experience.
One day I hope to own a "3" or "4" Thaler piece.

 

@tibor ahhhhh. Which ones did circulate? I'm more into coins that circulated

 

The ones I referred to very rarely circulated and only after the ruler
was long deceased and then by the family of the original land owner.
Some were spent after the early 1700's. The holding "hostage" of silver
either fell out of favor or was outlawed. The circulating coins you are
asking about can most likely be found in Krause's Standard Catalogue
of World Crowns and Talers. This book is 2 inches thick. My copy was
printed in 1994. Not sure of later editions. The wear you find on the
early pieces that I mentioned comes from mis-handling and improper
cleaning. You may find the Krause book on Amazon. The 2 taler and
5 taler pieces you may find from the 1710's and up are denominated
at those values and have nothing to do with their silver weight. Most
taler sized coins average 28-30 grams. The U.S. silver dollar fell some-
where near this tolerance. Good luck with your quest!!

 

I gather you're talking about German states coinage? I'm not familiar enough with the small denominations to know what finessnesses those may be.

 

1 from my collection. German States/Baden 1831 Thaler .875 silver, 40mm size... griffin fan here... my #2 favorite coin too.

 

The largest silver coin that I have ever seen is the 1975 20 Pa'anga coin from the small Island nation of Tonga in the South Pacific. It was a centennial coin and it weighted 140 Grams and was 62 mm in diameter. Beautiful 99% silver proof like coin .