Celebrating the Peace of Westphalia // Conclusion of the Thirty Years’ War

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 1040. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Sachsen-Albertinische Linie. Johann Georg I. Elector, 1615-1656. AR 3 Taler (86.83 g, 12h). Commemorating the Peace of Westphalia. Dresden mint. Dated 1650. IOHANN GEORG • D • G • DVX SAXON • IVLIÆ • CLIV • ET MONT (globus cruciger), armored duke standing facing, holding sword in right hand and resting left hand on a table upon which a tufted helmet sits; drapery to left / (rosette) SACRI • ROMANI • IMPERI • ARCHIM • ET ELECTOR •, coats of arms of Saxony and Johann Georg below a garlanded helmet; 16 50 across top, C R across bottom; all within a circle of 20 shields. Schnee 883; Merseburger 1097; Davenport 394; KM 436. EF, toned. Very rare.

This multiple taler was struck to commemorate the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War in 1648. The reverse displays coats of arms of some of the states involved in the war.