Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1547. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $2250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg. Johann Friedrich. 1665-1679. AR Double Taler (58.18 gm, 12h). Memorial issue. Dated 1679. IOHANNES FRIDERICUS D:G:DUX BRUNSU:& LUNEB, bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, wearing peruke; 2 punched in flan below / NASCITUR IN HERZBERG ANNO/M•DC•XXV•XXV•APRIL•/POTITUR RERUM IN AVITIS DU/CATIBUS CALENBERG•GRUBENHAG•/ET TERRA GOTTING ANNO/M•DC•LXV•/PRINCEPS SAPIENS MAGNANIMUS FORTIS/AC PROINDE/BELLANTIBUS INTER SE CUNCTIS EUROPAE/REGIBUS:/IN MAXIMA REURUM ASPERITATE AC/DURITIE/IPSE SOLUS SAXONICÆ QUIETIS/STATOR/FELICISSIMUS AC VERE GLORIOSUS/OBIIT/AUGUSTÆ VINELICORUM IN/ITINERE ITALICO•/AD XIIX•DIEM DECEMBRIS/•ANNI M•DC•LXXIX, in twenty-one lines across field; all within wreath. Welter 1687; Davenport 222; KM 238. Good VF, irregular toning, lamination on cheek. A meticulous work of die engraving. ($2500)

A devoté of the absolute monarch, Louis XIV, Johann Friedrich allied himself with that king's territorial expansion in Europe. In return Johann Friedrich was paid subsidies to raise an army, but was soon forced out of the war. In 1676 the duke Johann Friedrich appointed Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz as Court Librarian and Counselor, a position which was expanded in 1677 to include the office of Privy Counselor.