NEWP Thaler Death or Princess Christina

Justacommeman

These tend to find me. To be honest I didn’t even know this existed. It was love at first sight

Knynh -6628 Ostfriesland. “Minted “ 1723

Bob13

It's been a while since I took Latin, thankfully Google provides "the image of a better life."

Of your skulls, this one is the most depressing with the wheat growing through the skull.

Looks like a nice thick patina.

291fifth

Were pieces like this intended for use as money or were they actually intended as medals?

The skull obverse is striking.

Justacommeman

@291fifth said:
Were pieces like this intended for use as money or were they actually intended as medals?

The skull obverse is striking.

Here is a glossy general overview of all things Thaler

The first were minted in Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, and indeed the majority were struck there. Some of these coins reached colossal size, as much as sixteen normal thalers. The original reason for minting these colossal coins, some of which exceeded a full pound (over 450 g) of silver and being over 12 cm (5 in) in diameter, is uncertain. The name "löser" most likely was derived from a large gold coin minted in Hamburg called the Portugalöser, worth 10 ducats. Some of the silver löser reached this value, but not all. Eventually the term was applied to numerous similar coins worth more than a single thaler. These coins are very rare, the larger ones often costing tens of thousands of dollars, and are highly sought after by serious collectors of thalers. Few circulated in any real sense so they often remain in well-preserved condition.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaler

m

WildIdea

Congratulations on the newp! Fits your collection perfectly and adds yet another new layer to its depth. Not only do I like the imagery, but the darkness of the toning is attractive and suits the mood of the piece perfect.

So cool....

EVillageProwler

A löser, I am told, was a coin whose primary functional purpose was to act as a bullion reserve during exigencies like war. The issuing authority, usually a Prince, Archduke or King, would mete them out to loyal upper crust society members — reclaiming them when emergency wealth was needed.

@Justacommeman — nice newp; very cool looking!

Kkathyl

Impressive

worldcoinguy

Great addition. Love the design. If I recall the lot, it was 1/5 taler denomination wasn't it?

Justacommeman

@worldcoinguy said:
Great addition. Love the design. If I recall the lot, it was 1/5 taler denomination wasn't it?

mark

Stella

Quite the design! I had never seen one of these before, but it is fascinating.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

sarikanair

That’s a beautiful thaler, the strike is clean and the scull design is impressive! Thanks for sharing...

Justacommeman

Thanks all! Updated with pic I just got back

GERMANY. Ostfriesland. Medallic 1/5 Death Taler, 1723. Georg Albrecht. PCGS AU-55 Gold Shield.
Knyph-6628. By Johan Christian Koch. Obverse: VITAE MELIORIS IMAGO., skull and scattered bones with plants growing from eye sockets. Reverse: Latin epitaph. Struck upon the death of Christiana Ludwiga von Nassau-Weilburg, the wife of Georg Albrecht. RARE and one of the most dramatic and emotionally potent issues that we've seen. Deep interwoven toning only contributes to the desired mood of the coin, which reveals faint signs of handling on the high points after close inspection. Truly an impactful piece that would greatly increase the interest factor of any collection

Description borrowed from
Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio)

m

Zohar

Very cool design. Congrats.

messydesk

Either you meant to title this thread "Death or [sic] Princess Christina" or you made the same mistake PCGS did on their label. Cool piece!