Austria 1655 20 ducats
This specimen was lot 30111 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $432,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Exceptionally Rare Ferdinand III 20 Ducat. Austria - Ferdinand III gold 20 Ducat 1655 AU55 NGC, Vienna mint. Jan Conrad Richthausen as mintmaster. An exceedingly rare type, double the weight of the 10 Ducat issue listed in the Standard Catalog of World Coins. At present, this is the only example that we have seen or have been able to locate--a fact that lends some credence to the speculation that the production of this type was limited to somewhere between only a single and a small handful of examples. Of clear note, the offering was struck from the same dies as the 10 Ducat also offered in this auction, which displays identical diagnostics and reworking of the date, particularly in the final digit. Immense rarity aside, this selection expresses an incredible appeal in its own right; truly, it appears self-evident in hand that preservation is on the very cusp of Mint State. Smaller details, including Ferdinand's hair, his dress, and the eagle's crown and feathers retain laudable definition. A minute degree of rub, while present, does little to diminish what must necessarily be viewed as an exceptional display of clarity and sharpness. Subtle rotation unleashes glimmering luster across the entirety of the surfaces, and cabinet tone in honey-gold confirms the specimen's age and originality, all while bolstering its aesthetic allure. A likely unique opportunity for our bidders, this grandiose 20 Ducat represents the very peak of desirability for advanced collectors of the fleeting Austrian multiple series. From the Paramount Collection."
A very rare denomination.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 70 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 69.26 g.
Catalog reference: KM-Unl., Fr-Unl., Horsky-Unl., Reichel Collection-Unl., MzA-Unl.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to:
- 1637 20 ducats, Graz mint
- 1650-GH 10 ducats, Breslau mint
- 1655 3 kreuzer, Graz mint
- 1655 3 kreuzer, Hall mint, archduke Ferdinand Karl
- 1655 thaler, Vienna mint
- 1655-IS double ducat, St. Veit mint
- 1655 10 ducats, Vienna mint
- 1656 10 ducats, Vienna mint
- 1657-GH 10 ducats, Breslau mint
- Coins and currency dated 1655