This
week’s highlight for our August 2017 Official Auction at the ANA World’s Fair
of Money in Denver, Colorado is an important discovery in Polish numismatics: a
Taler of Stefan Bathory dated 1580. All
talers of this ruler are extremely rare and highly prized, but what makes this
example so special is the legend. The
obverse depicts the crowned and armored bust of Stefan Bathory flanked by 15 –
80, surrounded by a beaded border with the legend around reading
“+STEPHANVS+D+G+REX+POLONIAE+”. The reverse depicts the crowned Imperial eagle
head left with arms of Bathory superimposed, surrounded by a beaded border with
legend around reading “MAG+DVX+LIT+RVS+PRUSSIAE+MAS+&C.” It is clear that
the last portion of the legend on the reverse die had been reworked.
Collectors
who are familiar with the various types and legends of these rare talers will
notice the abbreviation of Lithuania as “LIT” and the full spelling of Prussia
as “PRUSSIAE.” We were able to locate examples of this type of obverse with
different reverses and this reverse type with different obverses. In reviewing the specialized reference
material such as Hutten-Czapski, Gumowski, Kopicki, Klimek, Parchimowicz and
Kurpiewski we were unable to locate any example or listing in the references or
otherwise where this obverse and reverse were combined. It is extremely rare for a new discovery to
be made in such a rich and heavily documented area of numismatics. If such a
piece was unpublished and unknown to the great scholars of Polish numismatics
it should be considered extremely rarity and historically significant.
We
are still accepting consignments for our August 2017 Official Auction of the
ANA World’s Fair of Money. We are also accepting consignments of Chinese and
other Asian coins and currency for our August 2017 Hong Kong Showcase Auction.
In addition to this, we are currently taking consignments of world and ancient
coins and world paper money for our January 2018 New York International
Auction. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency
(whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our
consignment directors.
