Munsterberg-Oels 1535-NB ducat Fr-3228
This specimen was lot 25216 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $6,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "GERMANY. Silesia: Munsterberg-Oels. Ducat, 1535. Reichenstein Mint. Karl I. NGC MS-64. Obverse: St. Christopher standing facing, holding tree trunk and carrying infant Christ upon his shoulder; Reverse: Coat-of-arms. A VERY RARE and enchanting offering, this tremendously alluring and attractive near-Gem dazzles with a sharp, well incised strike, radiant luster shimmering throughout, and beautiful eye appeal. Undoubtedly worthy of a supreme bid and much focus. From the Augustana Collection." The duchy is located in Silesia and fell to the Hapsburgs in 1647 on the extinction of the line. Frederick the Great of Prussia seized Silesia in the 1740's but it is now part of Poland. This type is listed for 1520-36. Silver mining thalers exist in many varieties but gold mining ducats are unusual.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-3228; KM MB19.
- 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.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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