Hesse-Darmstadt 1755 ducat
This specimen was lot 682 in Stack's "Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico" sale (New York, January 2010), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMAN STATES. HESSEN-DARMSTADT. Ludwig VIII, 1739-1768. Ducat, 1755. Sharp-featured armored bust r. Rv. Crowned oval Arms in elaborate frame, SINCERE ET CONSTANTER. Substantial lustre, however some faint obverse hairlines can be found suggesting an old cleaning. Ludwig VIII added Lichtenberg to his holdings while the rival Cassel line annexed Hanau, continuing a family rivalry that persists to the present day. Good Extremely Fine." The SCWC lists this type for 1746-55 and prices it higher than the ducats from neighboring Hesse-Cassel.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-1217, KM 180.
- 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]Kraljevich, John, and Frank Van Valen, The Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico Collections, New York: Stack's, 2009.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
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