German Victory Over France Talers

[gmarguli]

At the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war, victorious Germany issued four Victory Talers dated 1871. The German States that issued them were Bavaria, Prussia, Saxony, & Wurttemburg.

 

While the mintages aren't exactly large, finding nice uncirculated examples has proved to be very difficult.

 

Mintages:

Bavaria: 150,000 (Proofs also minted)

Prussia: 880,000 (Proofs also minted)

Saxony: 45,000

Wurttemburg: 114,000 (First Strikes minted)

Bremen: 61,000

 

I've been trying to put together a set of these in gem condition for quite some time. It only took over a year to find my first example (Saxony) which I was lucky to get from an eBay seller overseas. It was already graded MS65 by NGC. This is a coin that is usually beat to hell and back.

 

 

 

Today, my second Victory taler arrived. A Wurttemburg currently graded PCGS MS65. This coin will be going to NGC very soon where I expect it will cross into an MS66 slab, as it is that nice.

 

[truthteller]

Very nice. May I have them?

 

 

 

TRUTH

[gmarguli]

Very nice. May I have them?

 

 

 

TRUTH

 

Thank you. I would let you have them, but you don't deserve them. These are rare coins.

 

In a box of coins I had, I found a 1981-D SBA in MS65 that I'll let you have for Ask.

[JamminJ]

You're going to send that to NGC these days? Ugh.

[truthteller]

"In a box of coins I had, I found a 1981-D SBA in MS65 that I'll let you have for Ask"

 

 

OK, I'll ask for the 1981D SBA. Now, can I have it.

 

 

 

TRUTH.

[frederickthegreat]

Nice Wurttemberg, and Great Pics Proofs of the Wurttemberg also exist; I'm not sure about the Saxony. Also, don't forget to include the Bremen Victory Thaler in your set. - Prussian

[gmarguli]

"In a box of coins I had, I found a 1981-D SBA in MS65 that I'll let you have for Ask"

 

 

OK, I'll ask for the 1981D SBA. Now, can I have it.

 

TRUTH.

 

Yes, you can have it. Ask is $3.50. Please include $3 for S&H. I accept PayPal.

[gmarguli]

Nice Wurttemberg, and Great Pics Proofs of the Wurttemberg also exist; I'm not sure about the Saxony. Also, don't forget to include the Bremen Victory Thaler in your set. - Prussian

 

I knew I was forgetting one of them, but couldn't remember which one. I also didn't feel like looking thru one thousand citystates in the Krause to find it.

 

For the Wurttemberg, I assumed that First Strike meant proof, but wasn't sure. I've also seen some super strong PL 19th century German coins called proofs. I still prefer business strikes over proofs as I like the fact the coin wasn't minted specially and had to survive over time in a nice condition.

[frederickthegreat]

I knew I was forgetting one of them, but couldn't remember which one. I also didn't feel like looking thru one thousand citystates in the Krause to find it.

 

Weren't up to some light reading, huh? I don't blame you.

 

As for the Proofs, in some cases it is virtually impossible to distinguish (with absolute certainty) between the nicest P/L First Strikes (EA, Erstabschlag) and actual Proofs. Some of the EAs are amazing. Even Karl Stephens has told me that in some cases it amounts to a judgement call. Most of my Thalers (85-90, mostly Prussian) are business strikes, but I do have several Proofs, mostly Prussian. Some have stronger Proof characteristics than others...so who really knows for sure? Nice coins, anyway - Prussian