Saxony 1513 3 ducats Fr-2933A

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Stack's Bowers 2020 ANA sale, lot 21249
SB820-21249r.jpg

This specimen was lot 21249 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $52,800. The catalog description[1] noted,

"High Relief Renaissance Era Multiple Ducat. GERMANY. Saxony-Ernestine. 3 Ducats, 1513. Friedrich III. NGC VF Details--Mount Removed. EXTREMELY RARE with few survivors known today, purportedly one of only two known examples. High-relief bearded armored bust in round cap right within dotted circle, shields of Saxony and crossed swords, Kurschwertern, divide titles as Imperial Elector and General; Reverse: Single-headed eagle with titles of Maximilian I as King of the Romans, date divided by the head. A highly interesting issue displaying an intricate ultra high relief displaying attractive light golden patina in the fields and protected area while the tops of the devices are a bit bright featuring a pale gold color. Minor evidence of being removed from jewelry as indicated on the NGC insert mentioned for accuracy. Despite its shortcomings an attractive finely engraved high relief issue seldom encountered in the market certain to catch the attention of the specialist.

This coin is an ultra-RARE jewel of Renaissance German art, bearing a remarkably life-like portrait in the highest relief of the great protector of Martin Luther, providing him with his refuge in Wartburg Castle. He remained of mixed mind about the reforms themselves and never publicly embraced them, privately maintaining many key Catholic beliefs while still assuring Luther's safety and right to teach at his newly founded University of Wittenberg. This extraordinary Gold coin is a dramatic example of the skill attained by 16th century German engravers. Friedrich was revered for the next three centuries as a hero of the Reformation and was portrayed in Renaissance style on Saxony's last commemorative coin, the 1917 Silver 3 Mark that is the rarest of all German Empire coinage. Here is a coin of beauty, rarity and history, one bound to uplift any collection fortunate enough to possess it. Ex: Stack's Auction January 14, 2008, Lot # 2760."

Friedberg lists a four ducats and a double ducat but no triple ducat for this ruler.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 10.5 g, 0.986 fine gold,this specimen 10.47 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-2933A (plate coin).

Source:

  • Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
  • 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]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.

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