Utrecht 1776 2 silver ducats Dav-1844
The first specimen was lot 34068 in Heritage sale 3106 (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $3,720. The catalog description[1] noted, "Netherlands: Utrecht. Provincial silver 2 Ducat 1776 MS63 NGC. An impressive survivor of this rare double-thick type, to say the least. Vigorous luster still sprints around the flan, enlivening the centuries-old hammer. Crisp, yet slightly rubbed, devices are rearticulated via slate silhouetting, an effect particularly impressive on the legends. Furthering its appeal, an attractive lemon tone evenly percolates the flan, imbuing the argent base with an aura of warm vitality. Certainly among the finest we've had the pleasure of handling, sure to inspire commensurate bidding excitement." The second specimen was lot 54224 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $6,900. The catalog description[2] noted,
"NETHERLANDS. Utrecht. 2 Ducats, 1776. Utrecht Mint. NGC MS-63. KM-P44. A desirous Double Ducat that stands atop the NGC census, this exceptional and incredible offering delivers a bright and glittering luster, with a commendability of strike and soft brilliance abounding. The fields are impressively clean, with only a light scattering of marking seen across the large and generously sized surfaces. Of additional interest is the date, being issued the same year as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an always popular touch, doubly so considering that these types frequently circulated in the Americas. A piece that offers the discerning connoisseur the chance for a premium representative."
The silver ducat (Dav-1845) was struck throughout the eighteenth century and is common, yet the piedforts of double weight are rare. The gold double ducat, tho expensive, is not rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 56.5 g, 0.873 fine silver; this specimen 56.34 g.
Catalog reference: KM-P67, Dav-1844, Delm-982a, PW-Ut65.2.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Delmonte, A., Le Bénélux D'or, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman N.V., 1964, with supplements to 1977.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- van der Wis, Jan, and Tom Passon, Catalogus van de Nederlandse Munten geslagen sind bet aantreden van Philips II tot aan het einde van de Bataafse Republiek (1555-1806), 2nd ed., Apeldoorn, Netherlands: Omni-Trading b.v., 2009.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2023 January 17 - 18 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3106, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2022.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2024 NYINC Auction, featuring the Emilio M Ortiz Collection and a Symphony of Russian Rarities, the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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