German States (Teutonic Order): silver 1/4-thaler of Grand Master Maximilian of Austria, ca. 1615
lordmarcovan
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German States (Teutonic Order): silver 1/4-thaler of Grand Master Maximilian of Austria, ca. 1615
Obverse: continuous legend: MAXIMIL: DG: ARC: AV: DVX:BVRG: MAG: PRVSS: ADMI:, caped duke standing, long sword in right hand, lion with shield left, plumed helmet right.
(Translation of obverse legend: "Maximilian, by God's Grace Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order".)
Reverse: armored and helmeted duke with lance on draped horseback right, 16 shields surrounding, coat of arms of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order below.
KM38, silver, 30 mm, 7 g approx. Ex-Halbedel Münzen und Medaillen, Salzburg, Austria, 5/25/2016 (through their MA-shops.com store).
Can a coin have "machismo"? If so, this design certainly would be a contender for that quality. Ever since I saw a massive and rare 1486 Austrian guldiner coin in a museum, I was taken with the basic motif of a mounted and armored knight on horseback surrounded by coats of arms. I'll never be able to afford a guldiner like the one I saw in the museum, but this more modest quarter-thaler piece of a similar design fit my budget. I did see two or three others of this type in slightly higher grade (for significantly higher prices), but this one had the contrasting grey and white toning I like so much on circulated old silver. So despite being in a modest (though acceptable) technical grade, its lower price and higher eye appeal sold me.
As of this typing, I'm only just beginning to learn some of the history behind this coin. The Teutonic Order sounds colorful and exciting, though I'll confess to you that the Hapsburgs and Holy Roman Empire and pretty much all of Europe in this period seem a confusing, blurry crazy-quilt to me. I'll keep studying, and enjoy this coin for a while. After all, it is through collecting neat old coins like this that I've learned most of what I know about world history.
Miscellaneous links:
Larger image
NGC/Krause priceguide trends
Original dealer page
Wikipedia links:
Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order
Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria
Thaler (alternately spelled "taler")
When posted here, this coin was part of my "Eclectic Box of 20" collection.
Obverse: continuous legend: MAXIMIL: DG: ARC: AV: DVX:BVRG: MAG: PRVSS: ADMI:, caped duke standing, long sword in right hand, lion with shield left, plumed helmet right.
(Translation of obverse legend: "Maximilian, by God's Grace Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order".)
Reverse: armored and helmeted duke with lance on draped horseback right, 16 shields surrounding, coat of arms of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order below.
KM38, silver, 30 mm, 7 g approx. Ex-Halbedel Münzen und Medaillen, Salzburg, Austria, 5/25/2016 (through their MA-shops.com store).
Can a coin have "machismo"? If so, this design certainly would be a contender for that quality. Ever since I saw a massive and rare 1486 Austrian guldiner coin in a museum, I was taken with the basic motif of a mounted and armored knight on horseback surrounded by coats of arms. I'll never be able to afford a guldiner like the one I saw in the museum, but this more modest quarter-thaler piece of a similar design fit my budget. I did see two or three others of this type in slightly higher grade (for significantly higher prices), but this one had the contrasting grey and white toning I like so much on circulated old silver. So despite being in a modest (though acceptable) technical grade, its lower price and higher eye appeal sold me.
As of this typing, I'm only just beginning to learn some of the history behind this coin. The Teutonic Order sounds colorful and exciting, though I'll confess to you that the Hapsburgs and Holy Roman Empire and pretty much all of Europe in this period seem a confusing, blurry crazy-quilt to me. I'll keep studying, and enjoy this coin for a while. After all, it is through collecting neat old coins like this that I've learned most of what I know about world history.
Miscellaneous links:
Larger image
NGC/Krause priceguide trends
Original dealer page
Wikipedia links:
Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order
Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria
Thaler (alternately spelled "taler")
When posted here, this coin was part of my "Eclectic Box of 20" collection.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
0
Comments
Hopefully you can keep it for awhile!
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TalerUniverse.com is a curated numismatic project dedicated to the silver talers, crowns, and medals of the Habsburg Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, spanning the 16th–18th centuries. The collection emphasizes historically significant issues, rare mint varieties, and high-grade NGC/PCGS examples, presented with detailed historical context, scholarly references, and high-resolution photography. TalerUniverse aims to serve both as a private collection showcase and a growing reference resource for collectors, researchers, and students of early-modern European coinage.
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A bit late, but Maximilian and the mounted knight look like they are about to head out on a crusade.
The "MAG: PRVSS: ADMI:" is Magister Prussiae Administrator or Grand Administrator of Prussia.
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In hand, it looks great, though I notice it has a very slight convex/bent/bowed appearance- not 100% flat. Could this be a result of having been struck on roller dies?
I found an article published by our hosts on the matter. I suspect that is the case. As long as it doesn't affect the coin getting a straight grade from a TPG, I'm OK with it.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
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TalerUniverse.com is a curated numismatic project dedicated to the silver talers, crowns, and medals of the Habsburg Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, spanning the 16th–18th centuries. The collection emphasizes historically significant issues, rare mint varieties, and high-grade NGC/PCGS examples, presented with detailed historical context, scholarly references, and high-resolution photography. TalerUniverse aims to serve both as a private collection showcase and a growing reference resource for collectors, researchers, and students of early-modern European coinage.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.