Germany Saxony 1/3, 2/3, and 1 Thaler 1806 to 1822

The inscription on this coin reads FRID AVGVST D G REX SAXONIÆ. This translates into Friedrich August, by the Grace of God, King of Saxony.

These coins have a rather complicated denomination. The fractional coins are known in the catalogs as both 1/3, 2/3 thaler and as 1/2, 1 gulden, respectively. The reverse of the 2/3 thaler reads 'ZWANZIG EINE FEINE MARK' which means 'twenty (per) one fine mark'. The mark referred to here is the 'Conventionsthaler' weight unit of silver. The Conventionsthaler was defined in 1754 as one tenth of one Cologne mark of silver, and 2/3 of one of these thalers corresponds to the amount of silver in these coin.

However, these coins are if little interest as silver bullion. They are scarce, and collectors seek nice specimens for their collections.

The catalogs report these approximate values, similar for all dates, except as noted below. The assayer's initials change from SGH to IGS in 1813, but this has no effect on value.

1/3 THALER (27 mm diameter)
worn: $20 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $80
well preserved: $150
fully uncirculated: $250
1/3 thalers dated 1815 are somewhat more rare, multiply these values by two

2/3 THALER (30 mm diameter)
worn: $50 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $100
well preserved: $200
fully uncirculated: $400
2/3 thalers dated 1822 are somewhat more rare, multiply these values by two

1 THALER (40 mm diameter)
worn: $35 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $60
well preserved: $100
fully uncirculated: $220

Some 1 thaler coins carry an inscription DER SEEGEN DES BERGBAUS on the reverse. These are generally worth about double the value of coins without the DER SEEGEN inscription. Coins dated 1813, 1815, and 1816 with the inscription but without initials SGH are not doubled in value.

Other 1 thaler coins carry the full name of FRIEDRICH AUGUST instead of the abbreviated name FRID., and they have the bust looking left instead of right. These coins are worth about the same as the coins pictured on this page.

Look at the coin in our picture. It is a 2/3 thaler on sale from Hanke Münzen, a seller on the web auction site MuenzAuktion.com. It is on sale for €185, which is approximately $240 US dollars.

While the coin is uncirculated, or nearly so, it has some hefty scratches across the portrait. These scratches are the reason that the coin isn't on sale at the price quoted for uncirculated coins above. These scratches are considered damage by collectors, and damage always lowers value.

As always, be sure to check out our 'Important Terminology' page on the top left to properly interpret these catalog values.
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