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1/3 Thaler - John George IV Death
| Issuer | Saxony (Albertinian Line), Electorate of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1694 |
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| Currency | Thaler (1493-1805) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A large stepped pyramid dominates the reverse field, its faces engraved with horizontal ruling to suggest stone construction, and rising to an apex from which radiate bold sunbeams filling the upper field. Two crowned heraldic shields of Saxon arms are affixed to the lower flanks of the pyramid on either side, resting on foliate decoration at the base. The circular legend 'SOLA GLORIOSA QUÆ IUSTA' runs along the periphery, serving as the memorial motto and reflecting the pious Baroque sentiments of the commemorative issue. |
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| Additional information |
John George IV died in April 1694 from smallpox, almost certainly contracted from his mistress Magdalene Sibylle of Neidschutz, who had died of the same illness just weeks earlier. The scandal surrounding the relationship — he had pursued it openly against the explicit objections of the Saxon court — meant his death carried a whiff of moral judgment that contemporary mourning literature was quick to exploit. Memorial issues like this one were a standard obligation of the Saxon mint, but the circumstances gave them unusual circulation among a public that had followed the affair closely.