Lithuania 1665-TLB 1/2 ducat Fr-10
The first specimen was lot 31242 in Heritage sale 3037 (New York, January 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Johann Casimir gold 1/2 Ducat 1665-TLB/HKPL UNC Details (Cleaning) PCGS, Vilnius mint, Titus Livius Boratyni as mintmaster, Hieronim Kirszenstein Podskarbi Litewski as treasurer. A small yet superb example with delightful, antiqued surfaces and considerable luster within the fields. Despite the details holder, this rare issue features a bold strike on a pleasing flan, with light ghosting around the legends. An excellent offering, nearly as-struck, and incredibly well-preserved for its age. A veritable jewel with outstanding appeal." The second specimen was lot 31026 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $3,720. The catalog description[1] noted, "Lithuania: Johann Casimir gold 1/2 Ducat 1665-TLB/HKPL AU53 NGC, Vilnius mint. A very scarce fractional ducat type depicting the familiar Lithuanian knight reverse design with the portrait of Johann Casmimir, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, on the obverse. Well-struck, with bright luster in the fields, which display a pleasing tangerine hue. Only three examples have been certified by NGC to-date, a testament to the difficulty of acquiring any example of the issue, much less one bordering close to Mint State condition." This scarce coin is listed for 1664-65 under Lithuania but it could just as easily listed under Poland. it accompanied a single ducat (Fr-9).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.75 g, 0.986 fine gold, .055 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 54.1, Fr-10, Gum-1891, Ivanauskas-9JK2-2, SK-2595a.
- 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, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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