Transylvania 1577 ducat Fr-284
This specimen was lot 2096 in Sincona sale 90 (Zürich, May 2024), where it sold for 4,500 CHF (about US$6,040 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Christoph Bathori, 1576-1581. Dukat 1577, Hermannstadt. Sehr selten. NGC MS62. Das durch NGC höchstbewertete Exemplar. (Hungary, Transylvania, Christoph Bathory, 1576-81, ducat of 1577, Hermannstadt mint. Very rare, Finest certified by NGC.)"
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. This type was struck 1577-81. The Hermannstadt mintmark was two crossed swords, crown above.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.54 g.
Catalog reference: Resch 9, Huszar 80, Fr-284.
- 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, SINCONA Auction 90, Münzen und Medaillen der Welt, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.
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