Transylvania 1659-CV 10 ducats Fr-402
This specimen was lot 88 in Sincona sale 5 (Zürich, May 2012), where it sold for 20,000 CHF (about US$24,610 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Siebenbürgen Achatius Barcsai, 1659-1660. 10 Dukaten 1659, Klausenburg. Av. ACHA: BAR – D G PR TR Hüftbild mit geschultertem Zepter nach rechts, darunter Voluten. Rv. PA REG HVN DO ET SI CO: 1 6 59 Gekröntes ovales Wappen auf verzierter Wappenkartusche. Sehr selten. Sehr schön. (Transylvania, Achatius Barcsai, 1659-60, ten ducats of 1659, Klasenburg mint. Obverse: half-length bust holding scepter, facing right; reverse: crowned oval arms. Very rare, 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 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; this specimen is 34,45 g.
Catalog reference: KM 322, Huszar 577. Resch 1. Friedberg 402.
- 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]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 5, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
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