Denmark 1765-HSK 12 mark Fr-269
This specimen was lot 1148 in Stack's Bowers sale of the L. E. Bruun Collection (Copenhagen, September 2024), where it sold for €11,400 (about US$12,634 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Fabulous Prooflike 12 Mark with Sharp Cameo-like Distinction, DENMARK. 12 Mark (Courant Ducat), 1765. Copenhagen Mint. Frederik V. NGC MS-66 Prooflike. Mintmaster: Hans Schierven Knoph (HSK). Engraver: Daniel Jensen Adzer (DIA), who engraved a large number of medals but is known to have engraved only two coins: this and the Speciedaler from 1764 (Hede 27B). Quite the RARE Ducat, this tremendous example displays bright luster and a mirrored brilliance that is rather commendable. A slight prooflike appearance besets the surfaces, with gentle frosting on the devices in addition to the mirrored brilliance. Only a few light marks are seen on the surfaces, with sunny and unbroken allure.
A popular coinage among collectors and the largest pre-decimal gold mintage in Denmark, the Courant Ducats were minted for two reasons: firstly there was a shortage in silver due to the war between Saxony and Prussia, which involved several other countries at the time. Secondly the Death of empress Elizabeth of Russia elevated Carl Peter Ulrich, duke of Holstein-Gottorp to the Russian throne (as Peter III), and he was, even more than Elizabeth, a mortal enemy of Denmark due to the conflicts of interest in Schleswig. The coins were simply needed to pay the troops in case war broke out. It was only the surprising overthrowing of Carl Peter Ulrich by his wife, Catherine the Great, quickly followed by his death, that prevented the war."
This type was struck 1757-65 in numerous varieties. At the beginning, the regime may have attempted to pass these as full ducats but we doubt anyone was fooled for long.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.12 g, 0.875 fine gold, 21 mm diameter, reeded edge, this specimen 3.10 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-269; KM-587.7; Hede-22G; Sieg-21.7; Schou-1; Bruun-7728.
- 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.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio, Jeremy Bostwick and Henrik Holt Christensen, The L. E. Bruun Collection - A Corpus of Scandinavian Monetary History Part I, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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