Silesia Defeated

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 912. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Schlesien (Silesia). Breslau. AR 3 Taler Klippe (11.58 g). Hans Riedels, mintmaster. Dated 1621. + MONETA • ARGETEA • SILESIÆ • III • TALERO :, Silesian eagle facing, head left, wings spread, cross on chest; H R within tail feathers, 16 21 flanking; all within dotted circle; stamp with 4 / M monogram above; stamp with monogram below / Blank. Friedensburg & Seger 83; Mailliet 5. EF, toned.

Johann Georg von Jägerndorf, the Protestant ruler of Silesia, sent troops to Bohemia to assist Frederick V of the Palatinate in his fight against Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II. As a result of his actions in support of the Protestants, Johann Georg lost his territory in 1621 when the forces of Ferdinand II put down Frederick V’s rebellion. In the last days of the uprising at the end of 1621, Frederick sought shelter at Breslau in the hopes of organizing a last stand. However, his war weary allies sent no funding or military support. As the Austrian forces approached, Frederick retreated. Silesia, abandoned by its leader, was forced to make peace with the Holy Roman Empire. It issued a series of emergency coins to help pay its debts. This klippe, marked with a value of three talers, was part of that issue.