Description
Holy Roman Empire, Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Johann Ernst I of the Ernestine Line of the House of Wettin, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 1605-1620 AD, Silver Achtbrüdertaler – ‘Eight Brothers’ Reichsthaler Specie (28.95g, 41mm), 1616 WA, type IV, Saalfeld mint, under mint master Wolf Albrecht. Obverse: Half-length bust of Duke Johann Ernst I central amongst the busts of his seven younger brothers, each figure wearing decorative floral armour and ruff; from largest to smallest: Friedrich, Wilhelm, Albrecht, Johann Friedrich, Ernst, Bernhard and Friedrich Wilhelm, inner lined border and legend beginning with initial mark globus cruciger surrounds, “D:G: IOH: ERN: IVN: DVX: SAX: IV: CL: ET: M: SVO: ET· TVT: NOM:”. Reverse: Coat of Arms of Duke Johann Ernst I as Duke of Saxe-Weimar within ornate mantle and surmounted by six heraldic helmets and charges, date to field either side, inner lined border and legend beginning with mint master’s initials “WA” (ligate) and initial mark cross fleury surrounds, “FRID: WILH: ALBERT: IO: FRID: ERN· FRID. WILH: ET· BERN: F F:”. Davenport (ST)-7529. The ever-famous series of ‘eight brother’ reichsthalers struck by Johann Ernst I, this example being the fourth and final design featuring all eight brothers on one side, awash with a keen display of rainbow toning and evenly worn, very attractive to the eye, details good Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Deī grātia, Iōhannēs Ernestus iūnior, dux Saxōniae, Iuliaci, Clīviae et Montium, suō et tutori nōmine”, with an English translation of “By the grace of God, Johann Ernest the younger, Duke of Saxony, Jülich, Cleves and Berg, in his name and as Guardian”. The reverse Latin legend lists the Duke Johann Ernst I’s brothers, reading in full as “Friderīcus, Wilhelmus, Albertus, Iōhannēs Friderīcus, Ernestus, Friderīcus Wilhelmus, et Bernardus, fierī fēcit”, with an English translation of “Friedrich, Wilhelm, Albert, Johann Friedrich, Ernest, Friedrich Wilhelm, and Bernard, made it happen”.
