Transylvania 1683-AI 10 ducats Fr-651
This specimen was lot 1131 in Sincona Auction 100 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 46,000 CHF (about US$69,331 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"UNGARN Siebenbürgen, Michael Apafi, 1661-1690. 10 Dukatenklippe 1683 AI, Alba Iulia (Weissenburg). MICHAEL.APAFI.DEI.GRATIA.PRINC:TRANS: Geharnischtes Hüftbild nach rechts mit geschultertem Zepter. Rv. PAR:REG.HVNGARI(AE) - DO:ET.SIC:COMES 1683 Gekröntes Wappen von Siebenbürgen mit dem Apafi'schen Mittelschild in einer verzierten Kartusche, unten in einem kleinen Schild A-I. Von grösster Seltenheit. Gutes sehr schön. (principality of Transylvania, Michael Apafi, 1661-90, klippe ten ducats of 1683, Alba Julia mint. Obverse: armored half-length bust right with a scepter resting on the shoulder; reverse: crowned arms of Transylvania with the escutcheon of Apafi. Of the highest rarity, Good Very Fine.)
Die Münze, wie auch der Rand, zeigen deutliche Zirkulationsspuren sowie typische Merkmale einer zeitgenössischen Prägung. Die RFA Messung ergab einen Goldfeingehalt von rund 99%. Rückschlüsse auf eine gegebenenfalls etwas spätere Prägung mit den Originalstempeln können wir trotz umfangreichen Abklärungen nicht mit 100% Sicherheit ausschliessen. (The coin, as well as the edge, show clear signs of circulation and typical characteristics of contemporary striking. The RFA measurement revealed a gold fineness of around 99%. Despite extensive investigations, we cannot exclude with 100% certainty the possibility that it was struck slightly later using the original dies.)"
This type was struck 1681 and 1683. This is the plate specimen in Numista. Michael Apafi was a Ottoman puppet in the three-way war between the Austrians, the Turks and the native elite. He was the last prince of Transylvania who was not a Hapsburg.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 34.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 35.82 g.
Catalog reference: KM 480, Resch see 244, Huszar see 639 (27.10 g). Fr-651.
- 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 100: SINCONA Jubilee Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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