A mint proof from a year in which part of the mintage was melted down.
The coin retains its natural, mint-struck luster. It features the shallower engraving characteristic of this issue, including on the king’s cheek. It has a light patina extending from the edge.
Very attractive for this hard-to-find issue.
When Raths and Siebert completed their commission in early 1759, the city commissioned another issue of ort coins. It entrusted the task to C.H. Schwerdtner, which led to two problems. First, the trial strikes sent to the court were rejected, and the issue was not released until a revised version was produced. Yet even this did not go smoothly. As Gumowski describes it:
“The mint’s further activities in this regard were disrupted by the discovery of irregularities and a reduction in the prescribed mint fineness. Consequently, the council ordered the re-minting, under strict supervision, of the worst batch consisting of 2,000 thalers...” Thus, the 1759 issue—which was theoretically superior (with a silver fineness increased by 14 grains)—turned out to be inferior to that of 1758, and not only in terms of craftsmanship.
