Frankfurt 1612 4 ducats
This specimen was lot 30073 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $18,800. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Artistic Commemorative Issue Frankfurt. Matthias gold 4 Ducats 1612, UNC Details (Mount Removed) NGC. Obv. King enthroned with scepter and globus cruciger at center, date split 16 - 12 at top sides, below 3./13 - IV split. Rev. Busts of Justice and Peace side by side, three crowns above. A delightful commemorative issue of Matthias struck upon his ascension to Holy Roman Emperor. A member of the House of Hapsburg, Matthias held other titles such as the King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611. This example, obviously serving as more than just a coin, has been previously used in jewelry and was likely kept as a talisman by a wealthy loyalist of the Emperor. While little can be seen of the previous mount, the surfaces were made uniformly bright during the course of its usage. Light marks also blend in the fields, but none distract the eye. As the assigned grade confirms, the detail remains essentially as-struck with impeccable precision remaining in the Emperor's clothing as well as the reverse allegories. Amazingly, essentially no strike shifting is detected, although the corresponding designs do give the impression of flan waviness. Our research confirms what our eyes initially suspected - this type in any grade is extremely rare, with a single other specimen appearing at auction in the past decade. An item that will surely be greatly anticipated. Ex: 'Colonel' E.H.R. Green; Green Estate' Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson."
Friedberg lists eleven different gold types issued by Frankfurt on the occasion of the coronation of Matthias, but no four ducats. We may assume this one is rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14 g, 0.986 fine gold; this specimen is 13.438 g.
Catalog reference: Forschner-21, J&F-309, Fr-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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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