Czechoslovakia 1951 dukat
This specimen was lot 30106 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $28,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Ducat, 1951. Kremnica Mint. NGC MS-66. Eluding all but the most advanced of Czechoslovakian collections, the 1951 Ducat issue is amongst the most demanded of types. The present example serves to fulfill that demand rather beautifully, with an extremely sunny and vibrant luster that is essentially unbroken by contact or striation. A single spot of color is the only noticeable distinction from the golden surfaces, with no other attention-grabbing features. A coin that ties together beauty and RARITY, this example is not to be missed, and certain to gather much attention from the many avid fans Czechoslovakian gold. From the Augustana Collection." This type was struck 1929-38 and 1951 along with a two dukaty, five dukatu and ten dukatu. This type is rarely seen circulated, suggesting the hoarding of what few examples escaped government vaults. The obverse portrait is of "good" king Wenceslas, he of the well-known Christmas carol.
Recorded mintage: 500.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-2; KM-8; Novotny-51 (RRR).
- 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, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]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.
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