Regensburg (1705-11) 10 ducats Fr-2484

photo courtesy Stack's

Stack's Bowers 2020 ANA sale, lot 21244

The first specimen was lot 715 in Stack's "Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico" sale (New York, January 2010), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[1] noted, "GERMAN STATES. REGENSBURG. Freie Reichsstadt. 10 Ducats, n.d. (1705-1711). Heart-shaped city Arms in elaborate garlanded frame, MONETA * REIPVBLICAE * RATISBONENSIS *. Rv. Imperial crown over nimbate double eagle, orb between the heads, large-letter title * IOSEPHVS * D. G * ROM. IMP. SEMP. AVG. The only word for this Gold coin is impressive, and its rarity matches its appeal as one of only two known. Joseph was a sensible and conciliatory ruler whose great military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy inflicted defeats on the French King Louis XIV. His reign was brief but generally successful before his death of smallpox in April 1711. The loyal Free City of Regensburg created this sumptuous tribute, a coin whose face value represented a startling amount of money when it was struck and was almost certainly intended for presentation to some very high dignitary. Golden surfaces show tantalizing hints of paler red. About Uncirculated." The second specimen was lot 21244 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"Impressive Low Mintage 10 Ducats. GERMANY. Regensburg. 10 Ducats, (1705-11). Joseph I. NGC EF Details--Mount Removed. Purported mintage: 27, though it is believed that there are only 2 known. Heart-shaped city Arms in elaborate garlanded frame, "MONETA * REIPVBLICAE * RATISBONENSIS *"; Reverse: Imperial crown over nimbate double eagle, orb between the heads, large-letter title "* IOSEPHVS * D. G * ROM. IMP. SEMP. AVG.". A boldly struck massive early 18th century gold issue displaying an attractive imperial motif with good definition of the details. Evidence of being removed from jewelry long ago, but not immediately noticeable blending with the rest of the coin. The golden surfaces display rich mottled patina with tantalizing hints of paler red.
Joseph was a sensible and conciliatory ruler whose great military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy inflicted defeats on the French King Louis XIV. His reign was brief but generally successful before his death of smallpox in April 1711. The loyal Free City of Regensburg created this sumptuous tribute, a coin whose face value represented a startling amount of money when it was struck and was almost certainly intended for presentation to some very high dignitary. Ex: Stack's Auction January 14, 2008, Lot # 2750. Ex: Auktionshaus Meister & Sonntag Auction # 2 September 21, 2004, Lot # 2365. Ex: UBS Gold & Numismatics Auction # 53 January 29, 2002, Lot # 1029."

The second example was offered again as lot 40376 in Stack's Bowers 2021 ANA sale, where it sold for $36,000. The city of Regensburg issued a variety of ducat based coins in the eighteenth century, ranging from this massive coin down to 1/32 ducats weighing a tenth of a gram. The city was annexed to Bavaria in 1810.

Recorded mintage: 27.

Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, 1.11 troy oz AGW, the first specimen 44.2 mm diameter, 34.82 grams.

Catalog reference: Fr-2484, KM 227.

Source:

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]Kraljevich, John, and Frank Van Valen, The Vermuele, Ward & Mexico Maxico Collections, New York: Stack's, 2009.
Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
^[2]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

Link to:

Regensburg (1705-11) 10 ducats Fr-2484

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