Centennial of the Reformation

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1283. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Straßburg (Stadt). AR Taler Klippe (25.49 g). Centennial of the Reformation issue. Dated 1617. + OMNIS (rosette) TERRA (rosette) ADORET (rosette) DEVM (rosette) ET (rosette) PSALLAT (rosette) EI :/(florette) LVX (rosette) POST (rosette) TENEBRAS (rosette) MDXVII :, coat-of-arms of Straßburg / (arabesque) PRO (arabesque)/ RELIGIONIS •/CENTVM • ANTE •/ANNOS • DIVINITVS/RESTITVTÆ • MEMO/RIA • NOVIQVE • SECV •/LI • FELICI • AVSPICIO/S • P • Q • ARGENTOR •/F • F • A (annulet) MDCXVII •/CAL • NOVEMB • in ten lines; arabesques above and below; all with linear and reeded border. Cf. Engel & Lehr 609; Davenport 5846 note. Good VF, toned, AMR and AVH engraved in opposite corners of obverse, AMR, AVH, and 7 Mar: 1645 engraved in opposite corners of reverse.

Ex Spink 171 (25 November 2004), lot 223.

As an Imperial Free City of the Holy Roman Empire since 1262, Strassburg was able to enjoy a good measure of independence in southwestern Germany. It adopted Protestantism during the Reformation and, as a result, attracted immigrants from areas of Europe where non-Catholics were persecuted. In addition, the city became a major center of learning and book printing. This klippe, struck to commemorate the centennial of the Protestant Reformation, reinforces Strassburg’s role as a focus of Protestant teaching and practice.