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2 Thalers - Wolfgang II Death
| Issuer | Barby, County of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1615 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reference(s) | KM#26 ST#6061 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | An imperial orb surmounts a nine-line Latin commemorative inscription filling the entire field, recording the date of death of Count Wolfgang II on 23 March 1615 and eulogizing him as a sincere servant of Christ and a valiant soldier of the fatherland who lived for XXCIII years, III months, and VII days. Quatrefoil ornaments separate certain lines of the text. The inscription is rendered in bold relief capital letters characteristic of early seventeenth-century German hammered coinage. |
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| Additional information |
Wolfgang II, Count of Barby and Mühlingen, died in 1615 without a male heir, effectively ending the Barby comital line. The county subsequently passed through inheritance disputes before falling to Brandenburg. Death thalers of this type — struck not as currency but as commemorative memorial pieces distributed among noble recipients — were produced in limited quantities almost immediately after a ruler's death, which is why so few show meaningful circulation wear.
The double-thaler format was the prestige choice for such occasions, its substantial silver content making it a fitting gift for peers and allies of the deceased. At roughly 58 grams, these were never intended for a merchant's purse.