Transylvania 1630-CV ducat Fr-370
This specimen was lot 3648 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 10,000 CHF (about US$15,072 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Katharina Bethlen, 1629-1630. Dukat 1630 CV, Klausenburg. (Lilie) CATH.D.G.N.M.B.S.R.I.ET.TRAN.PRINC: Brustbild halblinks mit breitem weit abstehendem Spitzenkragen. Rv. PAR.R.H.D.SIC.CO.A.B.I.C.M.D.1630 Gekrönter ovaler Schild mit dem sechsfeldigen siebenbürgisch-brandenburgischen Wappen mit dem Bethlen'schen Mittelschild in einer Verzierung zwischen C-V. Äusserst selten. Sehr schön. Im Zentrum flau geprägt. (Hungary, principality of Transylvania, Katharina Bethlen, 1629-30, ducat of 1630, Klausenburg mint. Obverse: bust slightly left in embroidered ruff; reverse: crowned oval sixfold arms with the escutcheon of Bethlen divides the initials "C V". Extremely rare, Very Fine, Weakly struck in the center.)"
Katharina of Brandenburg (1602-49) was the widow of Gabriel Bethlen who attempted to hold onto power after the death of her husband. Failing in this, she returned to Germany and remarried in 1633. This rare ducat is from her brief reign. The similar Fr-371 has a Madonna reverse.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.49 g.
Catalog reference: KM 222, Resch 2, Huszar 468, Fr-370.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
Link to: