Norway 1669-FG ducat Fr-4
This specimen was lot 1216 in Stack's Bowers sale of the L. E. Bruun Collection (Copenhagen, September 2024), where it sold for €168,000 (about US$186,178 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Mint State Ducat of Frederik III with Bright Luster, Among the Most Unobtainable of All World Gold Coins, NORWAY. Ducat, 1669. Christiania Mint. Frederik III. NGC MS-62. Mintmaster: Frederik Grüner (FG). Dated gold Ducats of Frederik III are amongst the most unobtainable of all world gold issues, with even the badly damaged examples being prized given the paucity of examples. Of the only four registered examples of this date, one is found in the National Museum of Denmark, one in the Münzkabinett in Vienna, and two reside in private collections, of which this example is the best. Given the extreme rarity of a Frederik III Ducat, any example would serve the needs of most collectors, though this specimen boasts tremendous eye appeal to boot. The rich luster shines, with a bright mirrored reflectivity presented. The details are engaging and well-placed, with handling remaining quite limited. The last public record of any Frederik III dated Ducat trading was a creased and mounted 1665, which realized a hammer price of approximately 150,000 Euros in 2018. Given the superiority of this example, we expect all collectors seeking a true treasure to place bids, given that the chances of finding a comparable example are close to zero. Ex: Countship of Brahesminde Collection (Private Sale - 1922)."
This rare type was the first ducat struck in Norway since 1665. An undated half ducat (Fr-5) was also struck that year.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.979 fine gold, this specimen 3.48 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-4; KM-88; Hede-6; Sieg-72; NMD-9; Schou-4; Aagaard-5.1; Bruun-10046.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio, Jeremy Bostwick and Henrik Holt Christensen, The L. E. Bruun Collection - A Corpus of Scandinavian Monetary History Part I, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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