Utrecht 1791 1/2 ducaton
This specimen was lot 34184 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $5,520. The catalog description[1] noted,
"NETHERLANDS. Utrecht. 1/2 Ducaton (1/2 Silver Rider), 1791. Utrecht Mint. PCGS MS-66. The single finest certified of the date on either the NGC or PCGS population reports and tied for second finest of the type with one other example, only surpassed by a single example (PCGS MS-67). This fabulous example offers crisp needle-sharp devices with fully original lustrous surfaces. The obverse displays a thin layer of pale golden tone while the reverse exhibits more of a mottled dusky sunset patination. Pleasing to the eye, this charming and superlative Gem is destined for a fine cabinet of the discerning collector. From the Pat Johnson Collection."
The specimen is one of a type issued for the province of Utrecht 1761-94. Half ducatons are considerably scarcer than full ducatons. Each province of the Netherlands issued its own coins; besides Utrecht, there are coins for Deventer, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Holland, Overijssel, West Friesland and Zeeland, not counting various local issues. The Netherlands were swallowed up in Napoleon's empire and after his fall, reconstituted as a kingdom.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16.39 g, 0.941 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-115.1; Delm-1055.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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