Transylvania 1759 5 ducats Fr-529
This specimen was lot 30496 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $204,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Likely the Only Example Available in Private Hands. Transylvania: Maria Theresa gold 5 Ducat 1759 MS61+ NGC, Karlsburg mint. A rare variant of the 5 Ducat issue unlisted in Resch, Herinek, and the Standard Catalog of World Coins, struck with taler dies rather than the "usual" (though still very rare) 1/2 taler dies employed in the standard production of the type. Only adding to its interest, a comparison to the 1759 Karlsburg Konventionstaler shows clear die variations, including an obverse legend that ends in "RE•" rather than "REG•," indicated for the type in the Standard Catalog and Davenport. This, then, leads to the conclusion that this fascinating issue represents a unique issuance, produced with dies that are particular to this type, and resulting in a much broader format than the regular issue, which conforms to a 1/2 taler diameter. The rarity of the present piece is without question--Tassilo Eypeltauer could only locate a single example in the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, with this type also missing from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Clearly preserved within the bounds of Mint State, the offering contains an abundance of shimmering luster that serves as a backdrop for devices that have been struck to exacting standards--a fact that should perhaps come as no surprise given the absolute minimal use of the dies employed in its production. No matter what its enigmatic history, this important relic of Austro-Transylvanian numismatics will be regarded as a treasured centerpiece for many years to come. Ex. Künker Auction 91 (March 2004, Lot 7835). From the Paramount Collection."
A similar five ducats (KM 632) is listed for 1754-55, 1759-60 as struck on half thaler dies (as noted in the auctioneer's description). The regime also struck KM 610 (ducat), KM 639 (4 ducat) and KM 636 (6 ducat) in 1759.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 17.42 g.
Catalog reference: cf. KM 632 (struck with 1/2 Taler dies), Fr-529 (under Hungary; not pictured, though likely also from 1/2 Taler dies), Horsky-Unl., cf. Resch-60 (same), Herinek-36 (same).
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- Adolf Resch, Siebenburgische Münzen und Medaillen von 1538 bis Gegenwart. Hermannstadt, 1901 (reprinted in Montreal, 1965).
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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