Austria 1749-WI ducat Fr-425
This specimen was lot 5284 in Sincona sale 4 (Zürich, October 2011), where it sold for 1,150 CHF (about US$1,530 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ÖSTERREICH Franz I. 1745-1765 Dukat 1749, Wien. Geharnischtes, belorbeertes Brustbild nach rechts. Rv. Gekrönter, nimbierter Doppeladler mit gekröntem Wappen auf der Brust. Sehr schön. (Austria, Francis I, 1745-65, ducat of 1749, Vienna mint. obverse: armored, laureate bust to right; reverse: crowned, nimbate double-headed eagle with crowned arms on the breast. Very fine.)"
This type was struck 1745-65 from Vienna (WI), Hall (HA), Nagybanya (NB), Karlsburg (CA), Graz (GR) and Prague (PR) but is not common. On the death of Charles VI in 1740, the redoubtable Maria Theresia was crowned Archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary but, being a woman, could not be given the imperial crown. Therefore, after much debate and a war fomented by Frederick the Great of Prussia, her husband Francis of Lorraine was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1745.
Recorded mintage: unknown but somewhat scarce.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW; this specimen is 3,43 g.
Catalog reference: KM 1725.2, Eypelt. 612, Fr-425.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes: Auction 4, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2011.
Link to:
- 1748 half ducat, Vienna mint
- 1728 thaler, Hall mint
- Saxony 1745 ducat Fr-2867
- 1749-HA thaler, Hall mint, Francis I
- 1749 ducat, Prague mint
- 1750 ducat, Maria Theresia, Hall mint
- Brabant 1750 ½ souverain d'or
- 1754-PR ducat, Francis I, Prague mint
- 1755-WI ducat, Francis I, Vienna mint
- Coins and currency dated 1749
- return to coins of Austria