Bohemia 1646 10 ducats Fr-46e
This specimen was lot 1584 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 220,000 CHF (about US$290,708 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH, Ferdinand III. 1637-1657. 10 Dukaten 1646/5, Prag. Münzmeister Jakob W. Wolker. FERDIN : III • D : G : R : IMPERATOR • S : A : Belorbeertes und geharnischtes Brustbild nach rechts mit umgelegtem Mantel mit Spitzenkragen und der Kette des Ordens vom Goldenen Vlies. Rv. GER * HVN • BOHE - MIÆ • REX • A° . 1646 Gekrönter Doppeladler, auf der Brust gekröntes Wappen, umher die Kette des Ordens vom Goldenen Vlies. Äusserst selten. Gutes sehr schön. Rand leicht bearbeitet und kleine Kratzer. (Holy Roman Empire, Ferdinand III, 1637-57, ten ducats of 1646, Prague mint, 1646/5 overdate. Obverse: laureate, mantled and armored bust right with pointed collar and order chain; reverse: crowned doubled headed eagle, crowned arms on its breast, order chain around. Extremely rare, Good very fine, Some light tooling on edge and minimal scratches.)"
This type was struck 1641-55 using thaler dies. The SCWC does not mention the overdate. It was formerly listed by Friedberg under Austria. This example realized over fourteen times the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 34.9 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 34.46 g.
Catalog reference: KM 460 (listed under Bohemia, formerly KM 1423), Dietiker 836, Herinek 37, Fr-46e (formerly Fr-213).
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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