GERMANY. Freiburg (Stadt). Guldentaler (60 Kreuzer) dated 1571, but a later restrike from original dies (Silver, 39 mm, 29.70 g, 12 h), in the name of Ferdinand I (1558-1564). ✠ MON+NO+CIVITATIS+FRIBVRGENSIS•BRI Eagle's head to left, 15-71. Rev. ✠ FERD+D+G+RO+IMP+S+AVG+GER+HVNG+BO+REX Crowned and cuirassed bust of Ferdinand I to right, holding scepter over his right shoulder and globus cruciger with value '60' in his left hand. Davenport 31. Berstett 183. An extremely rare old restrike. Well struck and lightly toned. Some doubling, small deposits and a tooled edge, otherwise, extremely fine.


This exceptionally well-preserved taler was restruck in the late 18th or early 19th century from the original dies preserved at Freiburg. It is a fascinating reflection of a collecting trend that emerged during the Enlightenment, when official and semi-official restrikes of rare historic coins were produced specifically for collectors.

The most famous examples of this phenomenon are undoubtedly the Russian novodels, but the practice is also well documented in the German-speaking world. Other examples include the restrikes of the 20 Kreuzer of Obwalden from 1743 (HMZ 2-735u) and the Westphalian 10 Francs of 1813 (Friedberg 3518).