Nice. What’s the grade? Obviously NGC, as I see those dastardly white prongs sticking into the photos. LOL
My first significant addition to this collection in a while. A 1562 dates Thaler of Heinrich the Younger. USPS took over a month to get it from NY to Indiana so I wasn't sure it would be posted here at all. In my opinion it is much nicer than the photos show. It is dark but has incredible detail. PCGS MS62 Obverse: Bust left divides date, titles of Heinrich IX. Script: Latin Lettering: HENRIC D GR DVX B-RVNS E LVNEBVR Reverse: Helmeted 4-fold arms, wildman at right. Script: Latin Mint: Goslar, Germany Composition: Silver Weight: 28.53 g
So, I have added a gold Wildman. It is from Denmark instead of my normal, German States. The best part, it was not crazy money. 1844 2 Christian d'Or
I think I just read that the Netherlands has a few Wildman coins too. But, they seem to be very scarce.
There are a number of countries that have used the Wildman but they are nowhere near as easy to find as the German States ones are.
This one popped up on ma-shops.com last week. It is now my oldest Wildman Thaler. There are only a couple of types struck earlier than this. It was at a surprisingly reasonable price. GERMANY. Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Taler, 1549. Riechenberg Mint. Heinrich "the Younger" Dav-9046; KM (MB)-69; Welter-391. Presents a partial date, with just the last two digits (49) displayed (the 16th century being understood as the precursor). Even more interestingly, the wildman displays his shaggy, semi-nude body with more of a cross-hatched appearance rather than follicles. Weight: 28.8g
My second new recent addition. When I purchased it I thought I was buying an upgrade for a type I already owned. Turns out it is actually a new variety. Davenport number 6342. This one has an interesting nickname. The "houseboy" thaler acquired its nickname because the wild man appears to be dusting his forest with a broom. Obverse: Helmeted arms. Script: Latin Reverse: Wildman holding pine tree. Script: Latin Mint: Zellerfeld, modern-day Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany Mark: HS Henning Schluter, Mint master, Goslar, Zellerfeld (1626-1672) Composition: Silver Weight: 28.82g Diameter: 45.5mm This type was struck 1664-66 and is somewhat scarce. It is distinguished from the very similar Dav-6341 by having August's name on the left instead of the right of the shield. Other thalers for 1664 include KM 442.1, KM 444.1, KM 444.2, KM 456 and KM 470. Duke August II ruled 1634-66.