Transylvania 1773-HG ducat Fr-544
This specimen was lot 1002 in Sincona sale 54 (Zürich, May 2019), where it sold for 700 CHF (about US$833 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Maria Theresia, 1740-1780. Dukat 1773, Karlsburg. Gutes sehr schön. (kingdom of Hungary, Maria Theresia, 1740-80, ducat of 1773, Karslburg mint. Good 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. This type is listed for 1765-80; note the veiled head used after the death of Francis I). Unlike the Empire, where Maria Theresia had to rule thru her husband Franz (and later her son Joseph), she was queen of Hungary outright.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.47 g.
Catalog reference: KM 646, Herinek 225. Fr-544.
- Herinek, Gerhard, Austria Münzkatalog: Munzen ab 1745 und Banknoten ab 1759, 49. Auflage, Vienna: Christine Steyrer Verlag, 2022.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 54: Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
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