Saxony 1690-IK 6 ducats Fr-2744

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Heritage sale 3096, lot 30281
H3096-30281r.jpg

This specimen was lot 30281 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $60,000. The catalog description[1] noted,

"Phenomenally Sharp Saxon 6 Ducat, Presumed Unique for this Date. German States: Saxony. Johann Georg III gold 6 Ducat 1690-IK UNC Details (Mount Removed) NGC, Dresden mint. Johann Koch as mintmaster. Struck from Taler dies (cf. KM 670). A coin of absolute rarity, produced with impressive technical execution throughout. As is noted on the holder, a relatively inconspicuous mount removal at 12 o'clock is observed, but has not resulted in any further damage to the selection. Friedberg states that this date for the denomination is unique. Struck a year before the death of Johann Georg III, the engraving of the dies goes far to emphasize the Prince-Elector's health prior to his contraction of an epidemic illness in 1691. His heraldic, half-figure is fully clad in armor and set against open fields that positively beam with mint brilliance. Clearly recognized for its unparalleled desirability through its use as the plate piece in both the Standard Catalog of World Coins and Schnee's Sächsische Taler, and entirely missing from all of the major collections of Saxon coins we have consulted, it is no doubt that this offering will inspire fierce competition as it crosses the auction block for the first time in over 20 years. Ex. Künker Auction 42 (March 1998, Lot 3986). From the Paramount Collection."

This type is listed for 1684-85 and 1690. The elector also used the occasion to issue KM 581 (ducat), KM 582 (1½ ducat), KM 583 (2 ducat) and KM 584 (3 ducat). The electors of Saxony were more interested in claiming the throne of Poland than developing their realm, impoverishing both countries in the process.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 21 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 20.72 g.

Catalog reference: KM 588 (Rare; this coin), Fr-2744 (Unique), Merseburger-Unl., Dassdorf-Unl., Wilmersdörffer-Unl., Vogel Collection-Unl., Köhler Collection-Unl., Schnee-970 (this coin plated under Schnee-969), Baumgarten-Unl.

Source:

  • 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.
  • Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
  • [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.

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