Bavaria 1734 carolin Fr-232
This specimen was lot 1075 in Sincona Auction 107 (Zürich, October 2026), where it sold for 1,400 CHF (about US$2,040 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHLAND Bayern, Herzogtum, seit 1623 Kurfürstentum, seit 1806 Königreich. Karl Albert (Karl VII.), 1726-1745. Karolin 1734, München. 9.71 g. Drapierte Büste nach rechts. Rv. Madonna mit Kind thront nach links, mit der Linken hält sie das Zepter und den mit dem Kurhut bedeckten und mit der Ordenskette behängten fünffeldigen Wappenschild. Sehr schön. Leicht justiert. Erworben aus der Auktion Otto Helbing in München. (Germany, electorate of Bavaria, Charles Albert, 1726-45, carolin of 1734, Munich mint. Obverse: draped bust right reverse: Madonna and child enthroned, facing left and holding a scepter, below, a five-fold arms with an order chain around. Very Fine, Minor adjustment marks.)"
The eighteenth century saw a fad for absolutist rulers issuing gold coins named after themselves. The most important was the French louis d'or introduced by Louis XIII and issued until the French Revolution in 1789. In Prussia, Frederick the Great minted the friedrichs d'or and Denmark alternated between frederiks d'or and christians d'or depending on who held the throne. In Bavaria, the carolin d'or superseded the maximilian d'or in 1726 but was minted only until 1737 along with half and double carolin d'or. An imperial decree of 1736 banned their production by reason of the low fineness of gold. The type shown here was issued 1732-35. An armored bust variety exists for 1734.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.70 g, 0.770 fine gold, 26.5 mm diameter, this specimen 9,70 g.
Catalog reference: KM 424, Hahn 259. Fr-232.
- 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, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Richter, Jurg, Michael Hardmeier, Michael Otto, Arne Kirsch, Ruedi Kunzmann and Timur Demirai, SINCONA Auction 107: The Hugo von Ziegler-Schindler Collection of Numismatic Rarities, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2026.
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