From the Collection of Virgil M. Brand

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 1020. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $6750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Hessen-Kassel. Wilhelm V. Landgrave, 1627-1637. AR Double Taler (56.85 g, 12h). Kassel mint; Lubertus Haussmann, mintmaster. Dated 1630. WILHELM, • D : G : LANDGRAVI, • HASSIÆ • COM : C : D : Z : ET • N : ANNO : MDCXXXV • in outer legend; FATACON SILIIS POTIORA • in inner legend, crowned lion standing left, front legs outstretched; L X H (mintmaster’s initials) below / IEHOVA VOLENTE HUMILIS LEVABOR •, willow tree being struck by lightning from clouds above, wind and rain blowing from left, radiant hwhy to right; in background, city view of Kassel. Hoffmeister 1013; Davenport 318; KM 154.1. EF, toned.

Ex Virgil M. Brand Collection (Leu 69, 5 June 1997), lot 4497; Auction Sally Rosenberg, Frankfurt (22 June 1920), lot 493.

Hessen-Kassel was a Swedish ally during the Thirty Years’ War. Wilhelm V supported the Protestants and even maintained an army while his territory was occupied by Imperial troops during the war. In fact, Hessen-Kassel’s leaders were well known in the 17th and 18th centuries for raising mercenary armies that were available for hire. During the American Revolution, Britain’s King George III hired Hessian troops to help suppress the rebellious colonists.