Norway (1673) ducat
The first specimen was lot 3282 in Künker sale 264 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €46,000 (about US$59,423 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"KÖNIGREICH Christian V. 1670-1699. Dukat o. J. (um 1673), Christiania. Gyldenløves dukat. Der geharnischte König reitet r. mit Kommandostab//Der gekrönte norwegische Löwe hält eine Ritterrüstung. GOLD. Von allergrößter Seltenheit. Vermutlich 6. bekanntes Exemplar in Privatbesitz. Sehr schön. Exemplar der Slg. Ove Theodor Thomsen, Kopenhagen 1880, Nr. 3498, der Slg. Emil Glückstadt, Auktion Winkel og Magnussen 25, Kopenhagen 1924, Nr. 3215, danach im Besitz der Münzenhändler Grabow und Schulman, seit 1931 in der Slg. Christian Zinck. Exemplar der Slg. Christian Zinck, Teil 6, Auktion Høiland, Kopenhagen 2003, Nr. 365 sowie der Slg. Poul Henning Knudsen, Teil 10, Auktion Bruun Rasmussen, Kopenhagen 2012, Nr. 300. (kingdom of Norway, Christian V, 1670-99, undated ducat, Christiania mint. Obverse: armored and mounted king charges right; reverse: crowned Norwegian lion supports a suit of armor. Of the greatest rarity, only six pieces known in private hands, very fine. Sold 1880, 1924, 1931, 2003, 2012.)
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve war der uneheliche Sohn des Königs Frederik III. aus dessen Beziehung mit Margarethe Pape und somit Halbbruder von König Christian V. Er war von 1664-1699 dänischer Statthalter in Norwegen und ließ diesen äußerst seltenen Dukaten vermutlich im Jahr 1673 prägen. (Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve was the illegitimate son of King Frederik III from his relationship with Margarethe Pape and thus half-brother of King Christian V. He was from 1664-1699 Danish governor in Norway and issued this extremely rare ducat probably in 1673.)"
The second specimen was lot 30172 in Heritage sale 3107 (Chicago, May 2023), where it sold for $19,200. The catalog description[2] noted,
"Norway. Superb Gold Ducat of Christian V. Christian V gold Ducat ND (1670-1699) MS62 NGC, Christiania mint. A particularly exciting issue and one of just a handful of near-Choice gold specimens from the prolific reign of Christian V to surface, let alone come to market in recent decades. A quick survey of records confirms only three other auction appearances for this type in that timespan, and seemingly none so fine. While struck with deteriorating dies as evidenced by a large reverse die crack, the piece at hand remains fully embossed upon the small flan, with every element set to impress. Enveloped in a lemon-gold patina that gives way to prominent mint flash from a subtle flick of the wrist, the aesthetic quality seemingly knows no bounds. A silver example of this same design landed in the historic Newman collection we offered in 2014, which included some of the scarcest issues of Denmark and Norway, yet failed to include this specie in gold, and as such is only worthy of a world-class collection."
The SCWC and Friedberg list single, double and triple ducats for Norway for 1673, all rare, but not this type, which may be a pattern.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, .979 fine gold, the first specimen 3,51 g, the second specimen 3.61 g.
Catalog reference: KM-Pn3; Ahlström 152 a; Hede 19 b; Fr-189 (listed under Denmark).
- Aamlid, J. O., B. Ahlström, K Jonsson and G. Thesen, Norges Mynter fra 995-1992, Stockholm: Numismatika Bokförlaget AB, 1991.
- 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.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 264, Gold coins | Russian Coins and Medals | German Coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 May 3 - 5 CSNS World Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction #3107, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2023.
Link to:
- Norway (1669) 1/2 ducat Fr-5
- Norway (1670-99) 2 ducats Fr-11
- 1672 2 mark
- 1672 4 mark (krone)
- 1672-FG specie daler
- 1673 2 skilling, lion on reverse
- 1673 double ducat, mounted king obverse
- 1673 double ducat, bust obverse
- 1673 double ducat, monogram reverse
- 1673 triple ducat, pattern struck in silver
- 1674-FG specie daler
- Denmark 1694 ducat Fr-144
- Coins and currency dated 1673
- return to coins of Norway