Transylvania 1540 goldgulden Fr-44
This specimen was lot 3320 in Sincona sale 23 (Zürich, May 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN, Siebenbürgen, Johann Zapolya, 1526-1564 Goldgulden 1540. Klausenburg Kammergraf: Frater Georgius, Schatzmeister. Selten. Gutes sehr schön. (principality of Transylvania, John Zapolya (1526-64) gold gulden of 1540, Klausenburg mint, brother George, mintmaster. Rare, good very fine.)"
The princes of Transylvania were sandwiched between the Ottoman Empire to the south and the Hapsburg dominions to the west and attempted to maintain independence from both. The extreme anarchy in the region often allowed them to get away with this. This type is listed for 1537-40, when Johann Zapolya attempted to claim all of Hungary.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW, this specimen 3.54 g.
Catalog reference: Pohl N11-1. Resch 24. Fr-44.
- 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.
- Adolf Resch, Siebenburgische Münzen und Medaillen von 1538 bis Gegenwart. Hermannstadt, 1901 (reprinted in Montreal, 1965).
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Coins & Medals, Auction 23, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
Link to:
- 1540-KB obol, struck in gold
- 1540 goldgulden, arms reverse
- 1540-KB ducat
- Transylvania 1556-NP denar, Isabella and Johann II Sigismund
- 1558 ducat, Isabella and Johann II Sigismund
- Coins and currency dated 1540
- return to coins of Transylvania