Silver Coin Set Siegestaler 1871 (Complete Set for the Founding of the Reich)

Victory Thaler 1871 – A Silver Set from the Birth of the German Empire

There are coins that are more than precious metal: they are minted history. The Victory Thaler of 1871 undoubtedly belongs to this category. With the victory in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 and the founding of the German Empire, an era came to an end – and with it the centuries-old tradition of the German thaler. This exclusive complete set unites eight original silver thalers from the fateful year of 1871 in a high-quality case, complete with a certificate of authenticity. Those who love historical silver coins hold a piece of the Empire's founding in their hands.

The Last Thalers Before the Mark

The German Victory Thalers – contemporaneously often spelled "Siegesthaler" – tell of war, unity, and the founding of the Empire. They were minted as Vereinstaler from silver with a fineness of 900/1000. Shortly thereafter, with the introduction of the Mark in the young German Empire, thaler minting came to an end. The Victory Thaler is thus literally the last German thaler. This is precisely what makes it so sought after by collectors: it marks the closing point of a long numismatic era and simultaneously the beginning of a new one.

The occasion for the minting was the victorious war against France, whose peace was sealed on 10 May 1871 in Frankfurt. Several states of old Germany issued their own commemorative mintages – each with its own design, each a small work of die-cutting artistry. In specialist numismatic literature, these pieces are still catalogued today under their Thun catalogue numbers.

Which States the Set Unites

The appeal of this collection lies in the variety of designs. On the obverses, the rulers of the German kingdoms look out; on the reverses, allegories celebrate victory and peace:

• Kingdom of Prussia – King Wilhelm I. (Thun 272), reverse featuring enthroned Borussia in a victorious pose, sword and shield, legend "Siegesthaler".

• Kingdom of Bavaria – King Ludwig II., reverse featuring the winged goddess of victory Victoria and the inscription commemorating the peace concluded with France.

• Kingdom of Saxony – King Johann, reverse featuring a winged rider.

• Kingdom of Württemberg – King Karl, reverse featuring an angel and the legend "Mit Gott durch Kampf zu Sieg und Einigung".

• Free Hanseatic City of Bremen – crowned city coat of arms, reverse with the inscription "Zur Erinnerung an den glorreich erkämpften Frieden vom 10. Mai 1871".

The set thus brings together the most significant Victory Thaler mintages of the German Empire – a complete numismatic panorama of the Empire's founding, in which Prussia is represented alongside the southern German kingdoms and the ancient Hanseatic city.

Technical Details and Condition

• Set of 5 original silver thalers, year of mintage 1871

• Material: silver, fineness 900/1000

• Approximately 18 grams per coin with a diameter of approximately 32 to 33 millimetres

• Country of origin: Germany

• Condition: standard circulated (historical originals)

• Delivery: in a case with certificate of authenticity

These are original mintages over 150 years old, struck in solid silver – impressive coins whose historical character is palpable the moment you hold them. Minor signs of wear are to be expected with circulated coins and serve to underline the authenticity and age of the pieces.

A Collector's Item with Substance

Complete Victory Thaler sets are becoming increasingly rare, as many of the thalers once minted have not survived the long decades. For collectors, this ensemble combines historical significance with genuine precious metal – a dual appeal of history and material value. Precious metals have always been regarded as an inflation hedge and as crisis protection: gold and silver have outlasted currencies, empires, and crises over centuries. Where paper currencies came and went, precious metal remained a reliable tangible asset.

Whoever owns the Victory Thaler set preserves an authentic testament to German history – minted from genuine silver, carried by a great narrative.

Whether as the centrepiece of a collection dedicated to the German Empire, as a heirloom to pass down through generations, or as a tangible piece of precious metal with history: this complete set of Victory Thalers from 1871 is a piece of the Empire's founding that one is always glad to take in hand.