German State Sede Vacante Talers and Medals
Brunswick - 1666 4T

Owner Comments:

Massive multiple taler struck to commemorate the 88th birthday of August II. Attributed to the Zellerfeld mint. KM488, Dav-LS84, Welter-781A, 87mm, 116.30gm. With the denomination "4" stamped at the base of the reverse.

The earliest “multiple thalers” were issued beginning in 1574 by Duke and Prince Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. The success of the silver mining in the Harz Mountains led to plan to create a permanent reserve fund for the defense of the duchy. Subjects who owned property were forced to purchase one of his new multiple talers struck in a range of denominations from 1 ¼ to 16 thalers. Subjects purchased issues based upon their wealth and they were required to turn them in when requested by the Duke in exchange for debased currency, thus creating an instant source of good silver coinage whenever needed. These large talers, known as “juliusloeser” (Julius Redeemers) or “loeser,” have been popular among collectors since the 18th century. There may have been an element of pride in owning them, since they were a physical sign of the owners’ wealth and artistically beautiful. Collectors were willing to pay up to five times the face value for these coins in the early eighteenth century, not long after they had outlived their original purpose.

ex: Heritage Auctions, Aug 5 2020, lot 30134, from the Amsterdam Collection