The Thurn und Taxis family derived their wealth not from territorial conquest but from the imperial postal monopoly — the Reichspost — granted by the Habsburgs in the early sixteenth century and defended ferociously for over two centuries. By 1734, Anselm Francis held the position of Reichs-General-Erbpostmeister, and the ducats issued under his authority functioned as much as dynastic statements of that postal privilege as they did currency. The family would not receive formal princely rank until 1806, meaning this coin was struck under conditions of considerable jurisdictional ambiguity.
Fr#3391 is rare in any grade. Surviving examples appear almost exclusively in old cabinet collections.
The Thurn und Taxis family derived their wealth not from territorial conquest but from the imperial postal monopoly — the Reichspost — granted by the Habsburgs in the early sixteenth century and defended ferociously for over two centuries. By 1734, Anselm Francis held the position of Reichs-General-Erbpostmeister, and the ducats issued under his authority functioned as much as dynastic statements of that postal privilege as they did currency. The family would not receive formal princely rank until 1806, meaning this coin was struck under conditions of considerable jurisdictional ambiguity.
Fr#3391 is rare in any grade. Surviving examples appear almost exclusively in old cabinet collections.