Description
Holy Roman Empire, Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Rudolph August and Anton Ulrich of the House of Welf, each as Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1685-1704 AD, Silver Reichsthaler Specie (29.04g, 45.5mm), 1696 RB, Zellerfield mint, Lower Saxony, under mint master Rudolf Bornemann. Obverse: Jugate busts of Prince Rudolph August (left) and Anton Ulrich (right) facing to the right, each bare-headed, cuirassed and draped, inner lined border and legend surrounds, “D·G· RVD: AVG: ET ANTH: VLR: D·D· BRVN: ET LVN”. Reverse: Arrangement of heraldic mantles over swords, spears and flags, all saltire, over pair of columns, Prince-Elector’s hat above, grassy groundline below, date and mint master’s initials “R· ·B” in exergue, legend surrounds, “DVOBVS FVLCRIS SECVRIVS”. Davenport (ST)-6395; Davenport (GT)-2111; KM-577. Awash with a pleasing display of original grey toning with hints of lighter shades throughout, evenly worn and a lovely example of the type, good Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “Deī grātiā, Rudolphus Augustus et Anthōnius Ulricus, dux [et] dux Brūnsvīcēnsis et Lūnebērgēnsis”, with an English translation of “By the Grace of God, Rudolph August and Anthony Ulrich, duke [and] duke of Brunswick and Luneburg”. The reverse Latin legend is stated in full as “duōbus fulcrīs sēcūrius”, with an exact English translation of “two bed/couch feet is safer” – the meaning is implied as “it is safer with the support of two”.
