Mainz 1652-MF ducat Fr-1656
This specimen was lot 42333 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $1,952. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Mainz. Ducat, 1652-MF. Mainz Mint. Johann Philipp von Schonborn. NGC MS-61. A satisfying Mint State representative of this charming portraited type, with full luster gracing the surfaces and no signs of wear." The SCWC lists this type for 1652-61 and notes it as fairly common tho not cheap. Johann Philipp von Schönborn (1605–1673) was a committed pluralist, being the archbishop-elector of Mainz (1647–1673), the bishop of Würzburg (1642–1673), and the bishop of Worms (1663–1673). He was a principal negotiator of the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 which ended the Thirty Years War. Altho Friedberg merges most of the ducats of this prelate into Fr-1656, the SCWC divides them as follows: KM 105 (1650-51), KM 106 (1652-53), KM 107 (1652-61), KM 116 (1663-64), KM 118 (bust right, 1667-68 and 1670).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.42 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-1656; KM-107.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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