Austria 1869-A 4 ducats Fr-486
This specimen was lot 34191 in Heritage sale 3135 (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $9,150. The catalog description[1] noted, "Austria: Franz Joseph I gold 4 Ducat 1869-A MS61 NGC, Vienna mint. A less-common date-type combination, presented here with glossy sun-gold color permeating every facet of the planchet in a way that provides a charming, old feel. An altogether alluring example of Austrian coinage with nearly fully Prooflike surfaces and excellent contrast. Ex. Manhattan Collection." This type was struck 1867-72. It has the diameter of a thaler but is much thinner. It was never restruck, unlike the later type, so it remains scarce.
Recorded mintage: 19,000.
Specification: 13.96 g, 0.986 fine gold, 0.443 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-486, KM 2274.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2026 September 1 - 5 ANA World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction #3135, featuring The Vila Rica Collection of Brazilian Gold Coins, Part II, and The Grundy Collection of Latin American and Spanish Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2026.
Link to: