Regensburg (1700-05) 10 ducats Fr-2568

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Heritage sale 3081, lot 32179
photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 32179 in Heritage sale 3081 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $93,000. The catalog description[1] noted,

"Unique Gold 10 Ducat. Regensburg. Free City gold 10 Ducat ND (1700-1705) AU58 NGC. With the name and titles of Leopold I. A striking gold 10 Ducat listed as unique in Friedberg, where it impressively serves as the plate coin, with an estimated date of production stated as 1790-1792, a range which would place its creation within the reign of Leopold II. However, the obverse carries the initials IM-F within the cartouche design, corresponding with Mint Master Johann Michael Federer (1700-1740). Further, in its own sale of this impressive issue, Künker noted, correctly, that the H-F initials on the reverse (corresponding to Mint Master Hieronymus Federer) point to the use of an even earlier reverse die. While it is entirely believable that dies produced under Federer (1653-1673) would have been employed a few decades later, it is much more unlikely that the same dies would have been used in the late 18th century coinage of Leopold II. If true, this observation renders Friedberg's date attribution (also listed on the NGC insert) incorrect. Further, the stated date of 1667 in the Standard Catalog of World Coins must also necessarily be incorrect, as the IM-F initials, mentioned explicitly in the reference, were not in use until a third of a century later. Rather, if one takes the facts at face value, the reign of Leopold I lasting until 1705, and the use of Johann Michael Federer's initials beginning with his role as Mint Master in 1700, then the likeliest explanation is that the coin was produced within the first six years of the 18th century, 1700-1705.

If the appeal of its uniqueness and use as a plate coin in one of the most widely used modern references were not enough, this exceptional gold issue boasts a commendable visual presentation to match. Displaying an absolute minimum of highpoint rub, the coin otherwise appears essentially uncirculated, with only minimal signs of even the lightest handling present in the fields, which uniformly remain alluringly lustrous, a subtle trace of red tone embracing the boldly crafted devices and further accentuating the artistic skill which brought them to their present state, one in which they have essentially remained for over three centuries.

Truly a unique opportunity for the prospective bidder, this majestic 10 ducat will undoubtedly serve as both a centerpiece and as a point of great pride for its future owner, carrying its rich history with it for the ages. Ex. Künker Auction 144 (August 2008, Lot 4701); UBS Auction 60 (September 2004, Lot 36)."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 34.70 g.

Catalog reference: cf. KM 183 (with date of 1667), Fr-2568 (Unique; this coin), Beckenbauer-202.

Source:

  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
  • 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3081, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.

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