GERMANY. Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. Friedrich I, 1675-1691. Reichstaler 1688 (Silver, 40 mm, 28.80 g, 12 h), so-called 'Familientaler' ('family thaler'). Gotha IGW (mint master J. G. Wichmannshausen). ALBERT9✱FRIDERIC9✱BERNHARD9✱ / ERNEST✱HENRIC9✱CHRISTIAN9✱IOH:ERNEST9✱ Draped bust of Friedrich I to right surrounded by the draped busts of his seven brothers, M - D - S - I - C. Rev. 16-88 / ✱FRATRES LINIÆ GOTHANÆ✱ Helmeted coat of arms, IG - W. Davenport 7473. Koch 2175. Schnee 489. Steguweit 37. Rare and nicely toned. Tiny marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


Duke Ernst I died in 1675, leaving seven sons. As the Ernestine line had not yet adopted primogeniture, the brothers initially ruled their paternal inheritance jointly. In accordance with their father’s wishes, the eldest, Friedrich I, assumed responsibility for the administration. Yet the attempt to maintain a common court at Friedenstein Castle in Gotha soon proved impracticable. In 1680, the territory was therefore divided among the seven brothers - who, on the 'family thaler', are still shown together in a deceptively harmonious unity.

Friedrich I (1646-1691) retained the reduced Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and continued the senior Ernestine line; Albrecht (1648-1699) received Saxe-Coburg; Bernhard I (1649-1706) was allotted Saxe-Meiningen and founded the House of Saxe-Meiningen; Heinrich (1650-1710) received Saxe-Römhild; Christian (1653-1707), Saxe-Eisenberg; Ernst (1655-1715), Saxe-Hildburghausen, thereby establishing the House of Saxe-Hildburghausen, later known as Saxe-Altenburg; and Johann Ernst (1658-1729), Saxe-Saalfeld, founding the House of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later known as Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

This rare family thaler thus marks the beginning of the fateful fragmentation of the Ernestine line - a rupture from which it would never fully recover.