Basel (1720) 10 ducats Fr-72a

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Heritage sale 3096, lot 30452
H3096-30452r.jpg

This specimen was lot 30452 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $96,000. The catalog description[1] noted,

"Superb and Prooflike Basel 10 Ducat. Switzerland: Basel. City gold 10 Ducat ND (after 1700) MS63 Prooflike NGC. A rare medallic issue depicting L. Munatius Plancus, a Roman senator and consul who proposed the title of "Augustus" (revered one) be granted to Octavian. As the founder of Augusta Raurica, the oldest known Roman colony on the Rhine, located in the vicinity of Basel, he is often considered the founder of that city, and thus is celebrated to the obverse of this issue. Fully struck, with great detail visible across Plancus's armor and ornate texturing expressed within the reverse basilisk motif, the legends similarly sharp and serving as a pleasing peripheral border to the central designs. Scintillating luster careens over the fields, which display a pleasing sun-gold hue and significant reflectivity to earn the specimen a "Prooflike" designation. A great rarity, and the only example certified by NGC to date. Ex. Hess-Divo Auction 297 (October 2003, Lot 177); Adolph Hess Auction 245 (1976, Lot 388). From the Paramount Collection."

This type is not listed in the SCWC or HMZ because it is a medal, along with the similar twelve, eight ducats and six ducats. We include it here because it is mentioned in Friedberg.

Recorded Mintage: unknown.

Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 34.26 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-72a, HMZ-Unl., cf. Divo-742 (for reverse design), Haller-II-1296, cf. Ewig-722 (there, in 6 Ducat weight), Wunderly-Unl.

Source:

  • 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.
  • Richter, Jürg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
  • [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins: Signature Auction 3096, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.

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