Friedland 1633 ducat Fr-145
This specimen was lot 20161 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2019), where it sold for $26,400. The catalog description[1] noted,
"BOHEMIA. Friedland & Sagan. Ducat, 1633. Albrecht Wallenstein. PCGS AU-53. VERY RARE. Obverse: Bareheaded bust in uniform facing, ALBERTVS.D.G.DVX MEGAPOL.FRIDL; Reverse: Coat of arms with metal chain around, ET.SAGAE.PRINC.VANDAL.1633. A well struck, nicely centered example with bold, fully readable legends and warm honey golden toning throughout.
Albrecht (Albert) Wallenstein (1583-1634) was a nobleman and military leader who rose to prominence during the Thirty Years' War, fighting on the Catholic side. He became the supreme commander of the army of Emperor Ferdinand II, and as a result of his victories and reputation, was able to buy the Duchy of Sagan and was awarded the Duchies of Mecklenburg. He was granted the right to mint coinage in 1626. His ambitions began to concern Ferdinand II, who suspected him of planning a coup to take control of the Holy Roman Empire. He was removed from active duty in 1630 and retired to his capital of the Duchy of Friedland. However, the war soon demanded his presence in the field again, and he went on to command a number of battles in 1633-4. By now, a rift was developing between Wallenstein and Ferdinand II regarding his military decisions, and the latter resolved to find him guilty of treason. There was some evidence of this, as Wallenstein had in fact been considering changing sides in the conflict. A secret court duly found him guilty, and in the course of fleeing to meet the enemy Swedes, presumably to seek asylum, he was assassinated by members of his own trusted troops on February 25, 1634. Most of his coinage was subsequently confiscated and melted down."
This type was struck 1631-34 along with KM 63 (2 ducat), KM 64 (5 ducat) and KM 65 (10 ducat) and various silver coins. After Wallenstein's death, the duchy subsided into insignificance and no more coins were issued.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.42 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 62, Fr-145.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2019 Chicago ANA Auction: World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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