Austria 1915 ducat Fr-494
The first specimen was lot 44036 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "AUSTRIA. Ducat, 1915. NGC MS-67. Bullion restrike. A flashy and attractive prooflike strike, with reflective fields and frosty devices." The second specimen was lot 3907 in Künker sale 406 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €2,200 (about US$2,887 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"KAISERREICH ÖSTERREICH, Franz Josef I. 1848-1916. Dukat 1951, Wien. Fehlprägung der Jahreszahl 1915. 3,44 g Feingold. GOLD. R Prachtexemplar. Stempelglanz. (empire of Austria-Hungary, Francis Joseph I, 1848-1916, ducat of "1951", error for 1915. Rare, cabinet example, uncirculated.)"
This type was struck 1872-1915 in substantial numbers but the 1915 restrike shown here is the most commonly seen.
Recorded mintage: unknown but common.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, 19.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Herinek 5I, Veselý 53, Fr-494; KM-2267. The second specimen is Fr-495; J. 344; Schl. 581.
- 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, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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