1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

1871-1945/48
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villa66
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1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

Beitrag von villa66 » Mi 18.02.15 00:43

An 1861a coronation-thaler marking the crowning of the new Prussian King—and eventual (1871) German Kaiser—Wilhelm I. And note, marking also the crowning of the new Queen of Prussia—and eventual German Empress—Augusta.:
Dateianhänge
100_6271.JPG
100_6276.JPG

villa66
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Re: 1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

Beitrag von villa66 » Mi 18.02.15 00:45

This Kroenungsthaler, of course, is actually a species of Vereinsthaler. Vereinsthalers provided a bridge between the coinage of the old German states and cities, and that of the new Imperial Germany, circulating until they were withdrawn and demonetized to make way for the newly-introduced 3-mark coin of 1908.

But the really fun thing about this coin (for me, anyway) is this pronounced die crack affecting the obverse portraits:
Dateianhänge
100_6273.JPG

villa66
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Re: 1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

Beitrag von villa66 » Mi 18.02.15 00:46

Die cracks—especially prominent die cracks like this one—are sometimes taken as omens or as harbingers of death, or disaster.

That thought (die cracks as omens) passed through my mind as I was looking at this Prussian thaler, and I found myself chuckling. I mean, here’s a guy (Wilhelm) who lived a very long life, full of worldly accomplishments, had married only the one time and had fathered two worthwhile children, had enjoyed the pleasure of humbling in his old age the foreign enemy of his youth, and who, at his death, was the popular ruler of one of the world’s fastest rising countries—a country he had played an important part in assembling.

So maybe this is a fatal die crack—“fatal” in the sense that it is so severe that the tool was about to fail altogether—anyway, so maybe this is a fatal die crack that isn’t an omen :D . “Move along folks; nothing to see here….”

But then the die crack does afflict both portraits. And the marriage of Wilhelm and Augusta was not a happy one. Their daughter became Grand Duchess of a German state that challenged Prussia during the Austro-Prussian War, and their son…now there (in the familiar story of their son Friedrich’s early death on the Imperial throne), now there may be a real tragedy.

So maybe the die crack on this 1861 Kroenungsthaler is a bad omen after all. Or maybe not. Maybe it’s only a die crack in search of a story.

:D v.

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sigistenz
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Re: 1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

Beitrag von sigistenz » Mi 18.02.15 16:01

Sorry - I don't see any die crack :( Can you show close ups?
Thank you for another pleasant and well founded contemplation,
it's always fun reading them.
Sigi

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Re: 1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

Beitrag von villa66 » Mi 18.02.15 18:38

Hi Sigi,

Here's a picture closer in, of the right-most portion of the die crack. Or are you thinking that maybe this is some other kind of problem? (I considered a "struck-through error, but then decided not.)

;) v.
Dateianhänge
100_6273-001.JPG

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sigistenz
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Re: 1861a Kroenungsthaler; die crack

Beitrag von sigistenz » Mi 18.02.15 22:30

Ah - yes, I can see that horizontal line now. And others will, too, hopefully.
I am not familiar with German coins but I enjoy your postings.
Sigi

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