Murbach and Luders 1631 ducat
This specimen was lot 535 in Sincona sale 69 (Zürich, May 2021), where it sold for 16,000 CHF (about US$21,235 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANCE | Murbach und Lüders, Abtei. Leopold Wilhelm, 1626-1662. Dukat 1631, Guebwiller (?). |MON NO AVR ABBAT MVRB ET LVTRE Ovaler, dreigeteilter Schild: mit dem österreichischen Bindenschild, dem steigenden Hund des Klosters Murbach und der Schwurhand. Rv. |SANCTVS LEODEGARIVS Der mitrierte und nimbierte heilige Leodegard sitzt von vorn mit Bischofsstab und Bohrer, unterhalb der Grundlinie die Jahreszahl. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Sehr schön. Gewellt. (abbey of Murbach and Luders, Leopold William, 1626-62, ducat of 1631. Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen to date, Very fine, Wavy flan.)"
This obscure issue is from the long-vanished Abbey of Murbach and Luders in upper Alsace. No gold is mentioned in the SCWC or in Friedberg. The region is now firmly part of France. The abbey was ruled by Austrian archdukes 1587-1662.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.44 g.
Catalog reference: KM unlisted, Fr-unlisted, Divo -. E & L -.
- 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]Jürg Richter, Auction 69, World Coins and Medals, Bullion Auction and Chinese Banknotes, Part 1, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2021.
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