Owner Comments:
"... Upon the Stage proceeded a magical turn of events, as the soft moonlight flowed and intermingled with music. Tristan, wringing his hands, sang of his love for Isolde, creating the legendary romantic aura that a person can behold only at the Opera House. Thus King Ludwig, succumbing to this mood, plunged into the sweet dreamlike haze carried farther and farther away. Today his reveries regarded the greatness of the Bavarian people and how He, the King, will transform his native Bavaria into the worldwide capital of the Muses. Ludwig has already seen beautiful palaces and majestic fountains, art galleries in which artists and poets read poems on every patio, sounds of violin and harpsichord intermingling with opera divas, as philosophers stand ready to argue with you endlessly about the essence of existence. "I will continue the work of my father - Papa Maximilian will surely be proud of his Augustus son." Tears welled in Ludwig's eyes. "However, it will not be a simple task," the Monarch continued to think, "Max-Joseph managed to do a great deal in his life." He freed us from Napoleon, wrote the Constitution, made Bavaria an Independent State, established the Academy of Fine Arts, and even built the National Opera Theater so that he, Ludwig, needs now to think about how to etch his father's name on the slates of history. Yes, and the people loved Papa Max, calling him "the King-Benefactor”... Gradually, Ludwig's thoughts took another turn - he will perpetuate the name of Maximilian and erect a Monument to him, as in Munich there still is no good monument to the King-Benefactor - how will the people remember him without a monument.”-.. and with these thoughts the King again plunged into the realm of music, leaving everything as ideas to be sought for later.
“But there is a Monument!”- Christian Daniel Rauch, the Court Sculptor and Arrchitect, respectfully bowed before the King - “..the project would have been completed by von Klenze and Johann Martin von Wagner during King Maximilian's life, but His Majesty aborted the project. He did not like the fact that He was sitting in a chair like some kind of weak old man; thus, the project was sent back for revision, and then He began falling ill - in general, He was no longer interested in the preoccupation of the Monument. This way the monument project stayed unfinished in the air... "Show me the project" - Ludwig inclined himself over a piece of paper - "I don't know, I don't know, my dear Christian, to me Papa Max looks more imposing here - his baton, the outstretched hand ... He looks like a Roman Emperor tired of fighting and leading his army on the way to Victory! What other monument did He want? There already is one of him riding a horse - my great-great-grandfather Maximilian I. But to portray him standing in thought - this is how we have in Munich, there are many monuments of figures standing thoughtfully. No, dear Christian, let him sit and be sitting in front of the Theater in the Square named after Him! Today, inform Herr Johann Baptist Stiglmaier to start casting the statue. Also transfer the project to the Mint - let the memorial Taler be minted - my father should be etched in history in silver and bronze!”…
The monument to Papa Maximilian Joseph is still standing (or rather sitting) in front of the National Theater. The Grand Opening of the Monument took place on October 13th, 1835. King Ludwig personally attended the ceremony, proclaiming the installation of the monument as a manifestation of the gratitude and heartful love of the Munich citizens towards the King-Benefactor. Although the common people loved Papa Max, the fact that money collected from taxes was used to pay for the Monument did not sit well with many. Rumors about the King's excessive predilection towards high Art at the expense of taxpayers have already spread across the country, but we will talk about this in the near future - when times of trouble and revolution will soon cover Germany in their dark web.
___________________________________________________
German Talers since 1800 by John S. Davenport.
Bavaria, King Ludwig Series (1825 - 1848).
Taler 1835, MAX MONUMENT .
Davenport 577, KM 780.2 (411.2), Thun 69, AKS 136, J.51.
Commemorative - for the Monument to King Maximilian Joseph erected by the city of Munich.
Obverse: Head of the Ludwig I to the right, LUDWIG I KOENIG VON BAYERN. ZEHN EINE FEINE MARK
Reverse: DENKMAHL DES KOENIGS MAXIMILIAN JOSEPH ERRICHTET VON DER HAUPTSTADT MUNCHEN, seated figure and 1835 below.
Short scepter variety.
PCGS MS 64.
28.0600 g., 0.83300 Silver, 0.7515 oz. ASW.
Golden irridiscence more on reverse, some hairlines in the fields, uncirculated and collectible gem.