Mainz 1661-MF ducat Fr-1656
This specimen was lot 30549 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $1,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "Mainz. Johann Philipp gold Ducat 1661-MF, MS62 NGC. The final year of this interesting portrait type with vivid orange-gold surfaces and central detail that remains bold and without evidence of double striking. This is a superb representative of the issue with premium eye appeal for the grade that is highlighted by an absence of noticeable marks. Ex: 'Colonel' E.H.R. Green; Green Estate' Partnership of Eric P Newman/B.G. Johnson." 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: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 107, Fr-1656.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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