Transylvania 1648-NB ducat Fr-386
This specimen was lot 31081 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $3,525. The catalog description[1] noted, "Georg I Rakoczi gold Ducat 1648-NB, Neustadt mint, XF45 NGC. Struck on a slightly out-of-round flan, this ducat has few areas of weakness and mostly even circulation wear. Georg's portrait is nicely detailed, although there are a few notable surface marks, the most obvious being a scratch running from Georg's eye to ear. This ducat was one of his final issues before his death in October of 1648, prior to passing sole rule onto his son, Georg II, who had been elected prince in 1642. The father and son ruled jointly from 1642 to 1648." 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. This type is listed for 1620-22.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 271, Fr-386.
- 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, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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