Transylvania 1607 10 ducats Fr-323
This specimen was lot 25205 in Heritage sale 3030 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $70,500. The catalog description[1] noted,
"A Very Rare Multiple Ducat of Sigismund Rákóczi--Sigismund Rákóczi gold 10 Ducats 1607, AU55 NGC. A stunning example of this type. The strike is well-executed on a broad flan with only one minor, visible flaw at 5 o'clock on the obverse. Slight doubling is noted in the legends of the upper-left obverse quadrant and a couple of tiny nicks are present in the obverse fields, remarkably few for gold coin of this size and age. Luster remains in protected areas, particularly on the reverse dated in Roman numerals around a verse eschewing the mercy of God.
Sigismund was elected Prince of Transylvania in February of 1607 following the death of Stephen Bocskay in opposition to the candidates desired by the Hapsburgs and Ottomans. He was an able governor and administrator, but was forced to resign in March of 1608 by Gabriel Báthory to prevent an internal conflict involving Hajduks who had been unpaid for their service to Bocskay. Very rare, our research has yielded records of only three distinct specimens (including this one) sold at auction in the past decade and none since 2008. This multiple ducat presents an uncommon opportunity for the specialist in Transylvanian issues. From the collection of Donald E. Bently, sold for the benefit of the Bently Foundation."
This specimen was also lot 705 in Künker sale 400 (Berlin, February 2024), where it sold for €95,000 (about US$123,244 including buyer's fees). 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 Hapsburgs reconquered Hungary from the Turks in the 1680's and ended Transylvanian autonomy. Like many Transylvanian ducats, this type was struck the one year only.
Recorded mintage: unknown but few.
Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, 1.11 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 44, Fr-323.
- 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.
- Adolf Resch, Siebenburgische Münzen und Medaillen von 1538 bis Gegenwart. Hermannstadt, 1901 (reprinted in Montreal, 1965).
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3030, featuring the RLM Collection, the Isaac Rudman Collection, the Hans Cook Collection and the Collection of Donald E. Bently, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
Link to: