Danzig 1614-SA 10 ducats Fr-5
This specimen was lot 24009 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $132,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Phenomenal Dually-Dated Donative Danzig 10 Ducats, Rich With Original Mint Luster, POLAND. Danzig. Donative 10 Ducats, 1613/1614-S A. Danzig Mint. Sigismund III. PCGS AU-55. Engraved by Samuel Ammon. Obverse: Crowned, collared, and enrobed bust right in heavily ornamented garnishing, wearing Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece; engraver's initials (SA) and date within ornamentation; Reverse: Coat-of-arms of Danzig surmounted by cherub; supporting ornamentation below with date within, second date below; all within garlanding encircled by the legend. Immediately provoking a sense of awe and wonderment, this incredible donative 10 Ducats displays a level of artistry that is worthy of the finest of galleries. Engraved by Samuel Ammon, whose work would be immortalized on the 1621 100 Ducats of Sigismund III. Ammon was a master engraver, and the care he took to painstakingly apply the finely-grained details of the bust and arms of Danzig offer support for this piece being denotative in nature, likely to be given to nobility or a dignitary.
The immaculate engraving is fully rendered on the broad planchet, with an intensity of details coming through rather forcefully. Vivid original orange peel luster is retained, giving this example the appearance of a Mint State specimen at first glance. Any traces of rub are limited to the highest elements of the design, indicating this piece was put away long ago and revered. The slightest hint of friction on the surface is barely worth a mention, and this does nothing to detract from the beauty. More artwork than coin, this treasure of Sigismund III is certain to be cherished by the next owner, as it was by all of the previous ones. From the Anthony J. Taraszka Collection. Ex: Frankiewicz Collection"
Like other large multiple ducats, this would have been strictly a vanity piece for the king to pass around to his cronies. A five, eight, 15 and twenty ducats also exist. Sigismund III (1587-1632), former king of Sweden, resigned his crown and converted to Catholicism to seize the throne of Poland.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 35.13 g.
Catalog reference: KM 4, Fr-5; H-Cz-1308 (R2); Kop-Unlisted; Kur-2331 (R5); Gum-Unlisted.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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