Transylvania 1678-AF ducat Fr-448
This specimen was lot 5930 in Sincona sale 4 (Zürich, October 2011), where it sold for 2,100 CHF (about US$2,793 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Michael Apafi, 1661-1690 Dukat 1678 AF, Arx Fogaras. Geharnischtes Hüftbild nach rechts mit Pelzmütze und Zepter. Rv. Gekröntes, verziertes siebenbürgisches Wappen mit dem Familienwappen der Apafi als Mittelschild. Selten. Gewellt. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Hungary, Michael Apafi, 1661-90, ducat of 1690, Arx Fogaras mint. Obverse: half-length figure to right with fur cap and sceptre; reverse: crowned arms of Transylvania charged with the arms of Apafi. Rare, bent, very fine to extremely fine.)"
This type is recorded for 1678-83 and is rare. 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.
Recorded Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW, this specimen 3,44 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-448, Resch 228, KM 476.
- 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: Auction 4, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2011.
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