Wurzburg (1642) 2 ducats Fr-3649
This specimen was lot 3782 in Künker sale 294 (Osnabruck, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €2,000 (about US$2,696 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"WÜRZBURG, BISTUM, Johann Philipp von Schönborn, 1642-1673. 2 Dukaten o. J. Nürnberg. GOLD. RR Fassungsspuren, in den Feldern leicht bearbeitet, fast vorzüglich. (bishopric of Würzburg, John Philip of Schonborn, 1642-73, undated double ducat, Nuremberg mint. Rare, mount mark, fields tooled, about extremely fine.)"
The SCWC notes that this undated type was struck in 1642. Two types exist: the one shown (Fr-3649 & KM 129), where the bishop faces left, and Fr-3651 & KM 128, where the bishop faces right. This is also a single ducat for each obverse, also rare. Johann Philipp von Schönborn was also archbishop of Mainz (from 1647) and bishop of Worms (from 1663). He was a principal negotiator of the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 which ended the Thirty Years War.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 6.93 g.
Catalog reference: KM 129, Fr-3649; Helmschrott 287.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 294: Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871 | Russische Münzen und Medaillen, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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