Lot 486: Austria, Holy Roman Empire, Leopold I (1657-1705), Taler 1692, Kremnica, 28.40g, 47mm.

Austria, Holy Roman Empire, Leopold I (1657-1705), Taler 1692, Kremnica, 28.40g, 47mm. Davenport 3262. Toned, some scratches before bust, Very Fine.

 

From the collection of a WWI German lieutenant. Lieutenant MW was a distinguished member of the German army and self employed engineer and was born on the 25th October 1889. He was leader of the First Company of the Royal Saxony Reserve Infantry regiment and at the centre of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 stationed in Monaco Ferme, West Peronne. The division under his command lay in the swamp lowlands and was constantly under artillery and Minengeschoss (‘mine-shell’) fire. They held their positions against strong counterattacks for four days without trenches or shelters. The French launched a successful full-scale offensive on the 30th July. Temporarily losing their position, he launched a heroic counter-attack which brought the area back to German hands. Lieutenant MW was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class, possibly also the Iron Cross First, Knights Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry, Knights Cross 2nd Class of the Saxon Order of Merit and Swords of the Albrecht Order, and Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918. His fascination for German coins probably came from his patriotic feelings for his country. His collection of Russian coins was formed while he was director of a mine nearby Moscow from 1920 to 1930.