Saxe-Gotha 1638-EF ducat Fr-2945
The first specimen was lot 30095 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $9,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "Lovely Portrait Saxe-Gotha. Johann Ernst gold Ducat 1638-EF, MS63 NGC. Coburg Mint. A desirable jewel with invigorating luster that sparkles on both sides. An impressive strike precisely renders all the intricate detail upon the slightly off-round flan. Light debris at the legends serves to confirm complete originality; some die clashing (as made) to the right of Johann Ernst's portrait leaves a ghosted outline of some of the reverse detail. Without a doubt, one of the finest survivors of this scarce and desirable two-year type. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate' Partnership of Eric P Newman / B.G. Johnson." The second specimen was lot 3748 in Künker sale 294 (Osnabrück, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €900 (about US$1,213 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"SACHSEN-COBURG-EISENACH, HERZOGTUM, Johann Ernst, 1633-1638. Dukat 1638, Coburg. Spruchdukat. GOLD. Leicht gewellt, sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Germany, duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Eisenach, John Ernest, 1633-38, ducat of 1638, Coburg mint. Lightly bent, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Saxon ducats as a class are rare and this type is no exception. The death of the duke in 1638 caused the extinction of this particular principality.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, the second specimen is 3.40 g.
Catalog reference: Kozinowski/Otto/Ruß 328, KM 180, Fr-2945.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
- [2]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 294: Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871 | Russische Münzen und Medaillen, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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