Lot 579
German States -- Brunswick-Lüneburg. Mining 1 ½ Taler, 1681 (Zellerfeld). Dav-Son-240; Welter-1925; Fiala-2332; Kni-2639; Knyph-2576; Duve-5B. 43.55 grams. Ernst August. Monogram "E A" crowned in wreath and circle of fifteen shields, date and "1½" stamped below. Reverse: Arm from cloud with wreath over springing horse. Mining scene below. Full original mint luster with gorgeous iridescent toning, a superb example of a multiple taler, truly a prize for any collection. Very rare so well preserved. NGC graded MS-64.
With seemingly every minor German kingdom striking thaler-sized coins, to stand out among the many, coin designers often resorted to propagandistic images or symbolism. These large coins, and their even larger multiples, were ideal canvases for such use, and some have become exceptional documents to students of history and technology. One of the most outstanding are Mining Thalers, richly detailed pieces offering wonderful "slices of life" in their scenic depictions of mining tools and processes. On the coin in this lot, the scene beneath the horse of Westphalia shows the silver-mining fields in the Harz mountains in a series of miniature vignettes -- from locating a vein by means of dowsing, initial exploration, to the fully developed mine with its bracing and supports, tiers of chambers and mining tunnels, buckets for extraction, and the final removal of ore in wheelbarrows. In the background are shown the conical buildings that housed horse-powered lifting, draining and ventilating systems.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500.
Ex Irving Goodman Collection.
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| Realized $5,750 |
