Saxony 1627-HI 18 ducats Fr-2689
This specimen was lot 30273 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $132,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Apparently Unique Gold Multiple for this Date. German States: Saxony. Johann Georg I gold 18 Ducat 1627-HI UNC Details (Obverse Graffiti) NGC, Dresden mint, Hans Jakob as mintmaster. Struck from 2 Taler dies (cf. KM 392). A thoroughly impressive type, with this weight entirely missing from the standard literature (which typically cites the 1627 gold multiples at only 16 ducat-weight). However, this seemingly unique denomination is reaffirmed by the Roman numerals "XVIII," which have been inscribed into the obverse of the coin in two places. Despite several dings along the edges and grazes over the surfaces, this specimen retains a full degree of detail, without even a trivial amount of rub, leaving the devices fully struck and surrounded by luster. Baumgarten, citing Tentzel, suggested that this type may have been produced to celebrate the marriage nuptials of his eldest daughter, Sophie Eleonore, with Landgrave Georg of Hessen on 1 April 1627 in Torgau. Apparently missing from auction records--even the Deutsches Münzpreis-Jahrbuch has not cited an auction occurrence since the 90s--we can only suspect that this weight for the date is unique, as the consignor indeed posited. From the Paramount Collection."
Friedberg also notes a 1628 25 ducats and a 1628 20 ducats. The 1628 ten ducats (Fr-2690) used a different design.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 63 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 62.44 g.
Catalog reference: KM-Unl., cf. Fr-2689 (Very Rare; 16 Ducat), Merseburger-Unl., Dassdorf-Unl., Vogel Collection-Unl., Köhler Collection-Unl., Wilmersdörffer-Unl., Schnee-Unl., cf. Baumgarten-259 (16-1/2 Ducat).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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 and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
Link to: