Munsterberg-Oels (1565) 2 ducats Fr-3232A
This specimen was lot 21252 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $28,800. The catalog description[1] noted,
"An Issue Presumed Unique in 2 Ducat Weight. GERMANY. Silesia-Munsterberg-Oels. 2 Ducats, ND (1565). Johann. NGC EF-40. Of the highest rarity and thought to be UNIQUE. Dotted circle holds large bust left of the Duke (deceased 1536) in court dress and soft cap flanked by PA - TER, Father, legend "KAROLVS. D.G. DVX. MVNSTERBERGENSIS"; Reverse: Tall, long-bearded robed bust left dividing FIL - IVS, Son, legend "IOHANNES. D.G. DVX. MVNS. SYL. OLS. COM. GLAC". Struck on a planchet that shows somewhat uneven surfaces as so often seen on thinner gold coins of the era, but the rich detail presents the remarkable portraiture at its finest. The piece exhibits a complementary combination of pale gold color atop of the devices and in the most open areas with honey-gold tone in the fields and crevasses and hints of orange throughout. This moderately worn survivor is quite charming and pleasing to the eye, an issue destine[d] for a fine cabinet of an advanced collector sure to see spirited bidding.
Here is another super rarity of one of the surviving sovereign branches of the Silesian Duchies, whose independence were being steadily whittled away by their powerful Habsburg neighbors. This often-embattled region of Central Europe provides a significant number of Gold rarities, which are natural targets for the interest of collectors. Ex: Stack's (1/2008) Lot # 2782."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-3232A (plate coin).
- 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, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
Link to: