File:Hungary Stacks Jan15-1133o.jpg

This specimen was lot 1133 in Stacks-Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $4,406.25. The catalog description^[1] noted, "HUNGARY. Goldgulden, ND (1446-47). Nagybanya Mint, Mint Masters Christophorus & Antonius Czathy. Johann Hunyadi (1446-53). NGC EF-45. Fr-14; Huszar-615; Pohl-G 1-1; cf.Rethy-154a. RARE. Saint holding halberd in right hand and globus cruciger in left, flanked by mintmark and shield, legend divided; Reverse: Quartered arms in beaded circle. Hunyadi was a formidable foe against the Turks in the middle of the 15th century and is best known for the defense of Belgrade in the Spring of 1456. With only 3,000 Christian soldiers ready to defend the city against the Ottoman hoards, the Franciscan Monk John of Capistrano arrived with 200 ships containing thousands of men of various nationalities right as the siege began. Hunyadi, while defending the city, drove back the assailants three times with the aid of Capistrano's crusader forces. Suffering heavy losses, the Turks were able to retreat safely, but not without the sultan Mohammad II being wounded with an arrow. After the siege no real attempt was made to pursue the retreating Ottoman forces and Hunyadi boasted that it was now possible "to take possession of the whole of the kingdom of Turkey". Shortly there after, a plague broke out claiming the lives of the both Hunyadi and Capistrano. Nice strike. Lightly toned and attractive."