Mansfeld-Bornstedt 1774 ducat Fr-1575
This specimen was lot 2678 in Sincona sale 26 (Zürich, October 2015), where it sold for 2,600 CHF (about US$3,212 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Mansfeld, Grafschaft, Vorderortlinie Bornstedt, Heinrich, Fürst von Fondi, 1717-1780 Dukat 1774. Prag. Selten. Gutes vorzüglich. (Germany, county of Mansfeld-Bornstedt, Henry prince of Fondi, 1717-80, ducat of 1774, Prague mint. Rare, good extremely fine.)"
Henry was the last count; on his death all of Mansfeld went to Saxony and later Prussia. This is one of two ducats from that locality issued in the eighteenth century; presumably the prolific silver mines of the previous century had become exhausted.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW, this specimen 3.47 g.
Catalog reference: Tornau 324e. Fr-1575, KM 152.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Rarities, Auction 25, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
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