Trautson 1620 5 ducats Fr-894
This specimen was lot 33126 in Heritage sale 3094 (Chicago, August 2021), where it sold for $55,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "Austria: One of Perhaps Only Three Known Examples - Ex. Brand. Trautson. Paul Sixtus von Falkenstein gold 5 Ducat 1620 MS62 NGC, Vienna mint, Struck from 1/2 Taler dies (cf. KM 6). Matthias Fellner as mintmaster. An extraordinary gold multiple from this important Austrian noble line to say the least, and one which seems to tick all the right boxes. The first Count of Trautson to mint large-size gold multiples, Paul Sixtus is known to have overseen the production of just 4 multiple-Ducat denominations over the course of three years, with the present type being the last struck prior to his death in 1621. Reportedly one of just two known according to Friedberg, an investigation of past auction records suggests that the number to trade private hands might be just three in total, including Gorny & Mosch Auction 254 (March 2018, Lot 2329) = Künker Auction 160 (September 2009, Lot 4835 [plated in both Friedberg and the Standard Catalog]) and the Horsky specimen (Adolph Hess February 1911, Lot 5665), of which this is by far the finest; indeed, NGC has certified only one other, at AU50 (likely the ex. Gorny & Mosch piece). Made all the more appealing by its over one-century-long provenance tying to the Virgil Brand Collection, ideally centered strike, and the complete absence of the type from our recent sale of the Paramount Collection, we can think of no better piece for the discerning collector. Ex. Rauch Auction 102 (November 2016, Lot 2885); Virgil Brand Collection, Part IV (Leu Auction 69, June 1997, Lot 5666); Purchased from Dr. Jacob Hirsch in November 1919." The count was given the mint right as a reward for his service to the emperor as governor of Tyrol. He also issued a half thaler, thaler (Dav-3423, -3425) and double thaler (Dav-3424, -3424A) in 1620.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 17.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, 17.58 g.
Catalog reference: KM-A22 (Rare), Fr-894 (Very Rare; 2 Known), Horsky-5665, Donebauer-Unl., cf. Holzmair-pp. 57-58, Pavlicek/Schön-21.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, ANA WFOM World & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Signature Auction #3094, featuring the Cape Coral Collection, the WTR Collection and the Monaco Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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