Friedland 1629 10 ducats Fr-134
This specimen was lot 1814 in Sincona sale 73 (Zürich, November 2021), where it sold for 160,000 CHF (about US$205,856 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"CZECHYA | Wallenstein. Albrecht von Wallenstein, 1623-1634. 10 Dukaten 1629, Jitschin. { ALBERTVS · D · G · DVX · Münzmeisterzeichen Sonne (Georg Reick) FRIDLAN : ET · SAGA: Geharnischtes und drapiertes Brustbild mit glattem versteiftem Stehkragen leicht nach rechts. Rv. SACRI · ROMANI · IMPERII · PRINCEPS· 1629. Mit Fürstenhut bekrönter Adlerschild, darin Wappenadler des Herzogtums Friedland mit sechsfeldigem Wappen auf der Brust. Von grösster Seltenheit. Sehr schön. Mit eingeritzter Wertzahl X auf Vorderseite. (Bohemia, Albrecht Wallenstein, 1623-34, ten ducats of 1629. Obverse: draped and armored bust right with flat collar; reverse: capped arms with an eagle displayed, supporting sixfold arms of Friedland. Of the highest rarity, Very fine, X scratched in for value on obverse.)"
Wallenstein was born into the minor Protestant nobility of Bohemia but converted to Catholicism while attending university in Italy. Seeking glory, he pursued a military career and eventually became the commander of the imperial troops during the Thirty Years War. His successes against the Protestants aroused the suspicion of the emperor and he was dismissed in 1630. He retired to his duchy of Friedland in northern Bohemia. Imperial defeats at the hands of Gustavus Adolphus forced the emperor to recall him but distrust of his loyalty remained. He was assassinated by his officers with the emperor's connivance in 1634. He issued thalers 1626-33, all rare. After Wallenstein's death, the duchy subsided into insignificance and no more coins were issued.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 34.6 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 34.53 g.
Catalog reference: KM 43, Poley 94. Fr-134.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 73: World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and World Banknotes, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2021.
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