Erfurt 1645 10 ducats Fr-926
This specimen was lot 670 in Stack's "Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico" sale (New York, January 2010), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMAN STATES. ERFURT. Freie Stadt. Christina of Sweden. 10 Ducats, 1645. Half-length bust of Swedish Queen ¾ l. with hair showing flowing locks confined at the back by a sharp-toothed comb, titles Queen of the Swedes, Goths and Wends. Rv. Crowned quartered Swedish Arms with Vasa shield at center, titles Princess of Finland, Duchess of Estonia and Karelia. Erfurt in Thuringia was occupied by the Swedes during the Thirty Years War and issued coins portraying King Gustaf II Adolf and his daughter Christina that are eagerly collected by numismatists in both Germany and Sweden. Christina succeeded to the Swedish throne upon the death of Gustaf II Adolf at the battle of Lützen in 1632. A profound intellectual, she abdicated her throne in 1654, embraced Catholicism and settled in Rome, still retaining the style of Queen. This massive coin is of the highest rarity and is unpriced in Friedberg and Ahlstrom's catalogue of Coins of the Swedish Possessions. Extremely Fine and arguably Choice." The SCWC mentions an accompanying issue of one and two ducat pieces (KM 91 and KM 92). Stack's noted in August 2024[2], "Previously attributed as an issue for Erfurt during its period of Swedish domination, it is now believed that these EXTREMELY RARE issues were struck at Riga for Sweden's dominions on the east coast of the Baltic Sea and south coast of the Gulf of Finland."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, 1.11 troy oz AGW, this specimen 40.9 mm diameter, 34.32 grams.
Catalog reference: Fr.926, Ahlstrom 28, KM 90.
- 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]Kraljevich, John, and Frank Van Valen, The Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico Collections, New York: Stack's, 2009.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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