Lot 653
German States -- Prussia. Taler, 1771-A. Dav-2586; v.Schr-457; KM-306.1. Friedrich II, The Great. Bare head right. Reverse: Crowned eagle perched upon a firing cannon, divided date below. Mottled but delightful iridescent silvery lilac gray toning on brilliant and fully lustrous fields. Very rare this choice. NGC graded MS-66.
Frederick the Great (1740-1786) was one of the true movers and shakers among his European contemporaries. An "enlightened despot," he was molded under the harsh tutelage of an intemperate father, yet his personality was held to be one of the wonders of his time. Tolerant in religious matters, he professed atheism to his closest intimates. Cold and curt, he was known for a wit that was biting and icy. He wrote about politics, history, military science and philosophy, and his works were well regarded by his contemporaries; his military essays are still considered classics. A musical pupil of Quantz, he played the flute with some ability, as well as composing marches and other works for that instrument. He offered Mozart the position of court conductor at Berlin, at a very handsome salary of three thousand talers, but Mozart refused on patriotic grounds because of the continuing enmity between Prussia and Austria. Perhaps Mozart was holding one of these military talers when he said no to Friedrich!
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex Irving Goodman Collection.
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| Realized $5,750 |
