Hesse-Darmstadt 1754-S 2 ducats Fr-1216a
This specimen was lot 20204 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $13,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Hesse-Darmstadt. 2 Ducats, 1754. Ludwig VIII. NGC VF Details--Bent. Obverse: LUDOVICUS VIII D G HASS LANDG PR H, armored, draped, and garlanded bust right; Reverse: SINCERE ET CONSTANTER, crowned and garnished coat-of-arms. Despite its nature as being slightly bent back into form--likely after use as a jewelry piece--this INCREDIBLY RARE specimen features great detail remaining and some hints of brilliance still clinging to the protected areas. Though it is difficult to determine if there are any others from this date and type extant, what can be certain is that they never present themselves in the marketplace, making this an incredible opportunity for the advanced collector of modern world coinage in gold. Ex: Stack's (1/2008) Lot # 2668." The landgrave issued a number of gold and silver pieces which blur the line between coin and medal. No coin is listed for this state from 1754.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-1216a; KM-Unlisted; cf. Schutz-2992 (copper).
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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