Bohemia 1636 10 ducats Fr-38
The first specimen was lot 5157 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €65,000 (about US$90,461 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RÖMISCH-DEUTSCHES REICH, Ferdinand II. 1592-1618-1637. 10 Dukaten 1636, Prag. Münzmeister Tobias Schuster. FERDINANDVS · II · D - G - R · I · S · A · G · H · BO · REX ß Der gekrönte und geharnischte König steht fast v. v. in der Rechten Zepter, in der Linken Reichsapfel, zu den Seiten der gekrönte böhmische und der gekrönte, ungarische Wappenschild//ARCHI DVX · AVS · DVX - BVRG · MAR · MO · 1636 Gekrönter Doppeladler mit gekröntem österreichisch-burgundischen Wappenschild auf der Brust, unten Münzmeisterzeichen Prägestock (Tobias Schuster, Münzmeister in Prag 1631-1636). In US-Plastikholder der NGC mit der Bewertung MS 63 (5960012-003). GOLD. RR Prachtexemplar mit feiner Goldtönung, vorzüglich-Stempelglanz.(Holy Roman Empire, Ferdinand II, 1618-37, ten ducats of 1636, Prague mint. Obverse: the crowned and armored king stands facing, holding a scepter and orb, between the arms of Bohemia and Hungary; reverse: crowned double-headed eagle with crowned Austrian and Burgundian arms on its breast. Very rare, choice example with fine gold patina, extremely fine to uncirculated, slabbed NGC MS-63.)
Ferdinand II. *1578 in Graz, †1637 in Wien, Sohn des Erzherzogs Karl von Kärnten und Steiermark und Marias von Bayern, wurde von Jesuiten erzogen. Nach dem Tod seines Vaters 1590 rottete er in seinen Erblanden Kärnten, Steiermark und Krain den Protestantismus aus und gab mit dem gleichen Versuch in Böhmen nach seiner Wahl zum König 1617 den Anlaß zum böhmischen Aufstand. In dessen Verlauf setzte ihn der Landtag am 23. Juli 1619 als König wieder ab. Nach dem Tod von Kaiser Matthias am 20. März 1619 wurde Ferdinand zum deutschen Kaiser gewählt. Nach der Schlacht am weißen Berg 1620 trat er die Herrschaft in Böhmen wieder an und begann im Land sofort rigoros die Gegenreformation. Im 30jährigen Krieg bedeutete das Restitutionsedikt von 1629 den Höhepunkt seiner Macht in Deutschland, der Prager Frieden von 1635 war der Beweis für das Scheitern seiner Politik. Kurz vor seinem Tod erreichte er die Wahl seines Sohnes Ferdinand (III.) zum römischen König. (Ferdinand II. * 1578 in Graz, † 1637 in Vienna, son of Archduke Karl of Carinthia and Styria and Mary of Bavaria, was raised by Jesuits. After the death of his father in 1590, he eradicated Protestantism in his hereditary lands of Carinthia, Styria and Carniola and, with the same attempt, gave rise to the Bohemian revolt in Bohemia after his election as king in 1617. In the course of this, the estates deposed him as king on July 23, 1619. After the death of Emperor Matthias on March 20, 1619, Ferdinand was elected German Emperor. After the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620, he reigned in Bohemia and immediately began the Counter-Reformation in the country. During the Thirty Years' War, the Edict of Restitution of 1629 marked the height of his power in Germany, the Peace of Prague of 1635 was proof of the failure of his policy. Shortly before his death, he won the election of his son Ferdinand (III.) as king of Rome.)"
The second specimen was lot 30321 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $36,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Rare and Impressive 10 Ducats of Ferdinand II, BOHEMIA. 10 Ducats, 1636. Prague Mint; mm: cross on platform. Ferdinand II. NGC EF Details--Obverse Graffiti. Sporting some rather enchanting golden hues nearer the peripheries and around the devices, this lightly circulated golden multiple stands as a GREAT RARITY that is ever-increasing with respect to popularity and desirability. The detail is even throughout, with the rims free from all but a few very minor and subtle bruises. Meanwhile, its only noted distraction, the graffiti in the form of an 'X' between the legs of the emperor, is likely intentional as a way to convey the denomination (X = 10 in Roman numerals, hence 10 Ducats). This is supported by the fact that other multiple Ducats of the era also tend to feature an "X" or "XX," with it uncoincidentally comporting to the respective amount of Ducats. Indeed, a different example of this same denomination and date bears the same "graffiti" in the same spot, with that example realizing a hammer of €60,000 in October 2021. From the Augustana Collection."
The SCWC records this coin for nearly all the dates between 1621-37 but all are rare. The auctioneers listed this under Austria but Bohemia seems more appropriate.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, 1.102 troy oz AGW, this specimen 34,67 g.
Catalog reference: KM 319, Dietiker 763; Fr-38 (listed under Bohemia); Halacka 713.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 354: Munzen und Medaillen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. Braunschweig-Luneburg. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to: