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1/2 Thaler - Frederick II Bicentenary of the Reformation
| Issuer | Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (German States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1717 |
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| Reference(s) | KM#195 |
| Obverse description | Right-facing draped bust of Duke Frederick II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, wearing elaborate armour with a lace cravat and a long flowing wig rendered in the Baroque court style. A ducal crown is depicted at the base of the truncation. The mintmaster's initials C·W appear on the truncation. The encircling Latin legend reads FRIDERICVS II D·G DVX SAXO GOTHAN, separated by small rosette stops, and is contained within an inner beaded border with an outer milled rim. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | CVSTOS NON DORMIT / IVBIL·II·EVANG· / MDCCXVII |
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| Additional information |
The 1717 Reformation bicentenary was one of the most heavily commemorated events in early 18th-century German numismatics, with dozens of Protestant states issuing medals and coins to mark Luther's 1517 posting of the Ninety-Five Theses. Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg under Frederick II was among the most enthusiastic participants — the duchy had maintained an aggressively Lutheran identity since the Reformation itself, and its ruling house treated the anniversary as an occasion for both piety and political signaling toward Catholic neighbors.
The sheer volume of surviving bicentenary pieces from across the German states means this issue competes for collector attention against better-documented mint cities, though Gotha's output is generally distinguishable by die quality above the regional average.