Mainz 1663-MF ducat Fr-1656
This specimen was lot 2364 in Künker sale 404 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €750 (about US$984 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DAS ERZBISTUM MAINZ. ERZBISCHOF JOHANN PHILIPP VON SCHÖNBORN, 1647-1673. Die Münzstätte Mainz. Dukat 1663, Mainz. Mit Titel Bischof von Worms. Münzmeister Matthias Fischer. Die Münzmeistersignatur links vom Kurhut und die Jahreszahl rechts 166 - 3. Brustbild l. im verzierten Wams, der mit Borten besetzt ist und umgelegtem Kreuz//Mit Kurhut bedecktes, sechsfeldiges Wappen (Franken/Mainz/Würzburg/Würzburg/Mainz/Worms) mit Mittelschild von Schönborn, dahinter Schwert, Kreuz- und Krummstab gekreuzt, oben die Signatur und die Jahreszahl 166-3. GOLD. Von großer Seltenheit. Min. gewellt, sehr schön. Exemplar der Auktion Nomisma S.p.a. 57, San Marino 2018, Nr. 402. (Germany, archbishopric of Mainz, John Philip of Schönborn, 1647-73, with his title as bishop of Worms. Obverse: With the title of Bishop of Worms. Mint master Matthias Fischer. The mint master's signature is to the left of the cap and the date to the right. Obverse: bust left in a decorated robe, which is trimmed with braids and a folded cross; reverse: Six-fold arms of Franconia, Mainz, Würzburg and Worms with an escutcheon of Schönborn, an electoral hat above, behind it a crossed sword, cross and crook, at the top the date and initials. Extremely rare, slightly wavy, very fine.)"
The SCWC lists this type for 1652-61 and notes it as fairly common tho not cheap. This is an unlisted date. 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 3,41 g.
Catalog reference: KM 107 (unlisted date), Fr-1656 (unlisted date); Helmschrott 304 var.; Slg. Pick I (Auktion Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 405) - (see 436); Slg. Walther - (see 316).
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 404: Coins and Medals of the City of Mainz - The Prof. Dr. Eckhart Pick Collection, Part II, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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