Cologne. Free City "Three Kings" 3 Taler ND (c. 1620-1630) MS61 NGC, Cologne mint, KM-Unl. (cf. KM364 for 2 Taler), cf. Dav-LSA266 (different dies), Noss-78b, Weiler-465. 87.59gm. Of the highest rarity, this imagery-laden emission has long puzzled numismatists. Older scholarship originally supposed that the type belonged to the early 16th century, though based on die comparisons to contemporary issues, Noss has argued that it belongs to the beginning of the Baroque age, between 1620 and 1630; the date on the holder appears to be a misidentification with Noss-445 and 446, which share similar dies with Dav-LSA266. He has also proposed (cf. Zeitschrift für Numismatik 33) that it might represent the work of a Cologne goldsmith rather than an emission of the official mint in the city. Nevertheless, the present example has been rendered with pinpoint precision, as luster catches salt-gray elements over the surfaces. Our research has brought to light only one other example in recent sales records (UBS Gold & Numismatics Auction 72, September 2007, Lot 240), with Noss knowing of only 6 specimens in total.

HID09801242017

© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website