1599 "wasp Taler" From Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 2,498
wcg Valued Member United States 217 Posts	Posted 11/04/2009 8:22 pm I picked this one up in a recent auction and I can't wait to see it in hand. It is a "wasp taler" from the german state of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. This particular state has a legacy of some incredible designs, and I thought this one was particularly fascinating with the lion, wasps, and eagle. Catalogued as DAV-9093, NGC EF-40. Edited by wcg 11/17/2009 4:44 pm Report this Post to the Staff

echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 11/04/2009 8:56 pm Nice looking coin. Report this Post to the Staff
alganbagerap Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2490 Posts	Posted 11/04/2009 8:59 pm Bees, not wasps. From the Bible Judges 14 : 14 (yes, I had to look it up) "Out of the strong came forth sweetness" I think it refers to Sampson killing a lion, whose body is then taken as home by some honeybees. I'm not religious, it just used to appear on treacle tins when I was a boy. Bees however feature on a lot of early English tokens as symbols of industry, often the only way of accurately indentifying the coin is by counting the little ******s. Not so easy if they've seen a good bit of circulation. Report this Post to the Staff
wcg Valued Member United States 217 Posts	Posted 11/04/2009 9:25 pm Thanks alganbagerap - certainly an interesting reference that I will have to investigate. You find quite an interesting mix of religious themed symbols on german state pieces from this era. I used the term wasptaler based on the german word "Wespentaler" which I have seen associated with this particular issue. Maybe I am losing something in translation. Report this Post to the Staff
Zohar444 Pillar of the Community United States 1429 Posts	Posted 11/04/2009 9:46 pm I really like this one, as a unique design capturing the religious theme. Another excellent pickup! Report this Post to the Staff
chrisild Pillar of the Community Germany 1238 Posts	Posted 11/17/2009 5:47 pm Here in Germany that is usually called Mückentaler; guess that would be "Mosquito Thaler" in English. But even in German that type of coin is sometimes called Wespentaler ("Wasp Thaler"), so it's not a case of a wrong or bad translation but a question of what one sees there. Duke Heinrich Julius had a conflict with some noble families (Steinberg, Stockheim, etc.), and issued a few pieces that mocked at these families. The first one, I think, was the Rebellentaler (Rebels Thaler); others were the Lügentaler (Lies Thaler) and the Wahrheitstaler (Truth Thaler). This Mückentaler shows a lion, representing the Duke, who is attacked by ten mosquitos (those families). The eagle above symbolizes the Emperor who protects and helps the lion/duke. The allusions made on these pieces were by and large understood by the locals back then ... Christian Report this Post to the Staff
wcg Valued Member United States 217 Posts	Posted 11/17/2009 7:49 pm Wow - many thanks for the background! The historical context is absolutely fascinating. I was able to find examples of the 3 other talers you mentioned currently offered on the MA Shops site. Links to the auctions if anybody is interested in the other imagery (I am hesitant to post the images without permission of the sellers). 1597 wahrheitstaler: http://www.muenzauktion.com/pkkmgbr...2840&lang=en 1595 Rebellentaler http://www.muenzauktion.com/loebber...6001&lang=en 1596 Lügentaler http://www.muenzauktion.com/loebber...6001&lang=en Report this Post to the Staff
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1599 "Wasp Taler" From Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel