Bamberg 1696 5 ducats Fr-168d
This specimen was lot 30053 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $30,550. The catalog description[1] noted, "Struck from Taler Dies Bamberg. Lothar Franz Von Schonborn gold 5 Ducats 1696-GF N, Nurnberg, struck from the taler dies of Dav-5066, AU55 NGC. Obv. Draped bust right. Rev. Crowned arms. Exceedingly rare, perhaps only one other example is known to exist. Well struck, with abundant luster, a slightly wavy flan, and a few light marks in the reverse fields. From the 13th through the early 19th century, Bamberg was a bishopric. During the rule of Lothar Franz, the city was in a wonderful state of growth and prosperity. Ex: 'Colonel' E.H.R. Green; Green Estate' Partnership of Eric P Newman/B.G. Johnson." Bamberg, today part of Bavaria, was then part of Franconia and an independent state. In the seventeenth century the bishop was usually also bishop of Würzburg and resided there. A ten ducat (Fr-168c) accompanies this issue.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 17.35 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-168d.
- 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, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
Link to: