Zurich 1624 6 ducats Fr-442a
This specimen was lot 30467 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $78,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Potentially Unique Zurich 6 Ducat. Switzerland: Zurich. Canton gold 6 Ducat 1624 MS61 NGC. Struck from Taler dies (cf. KM 37). A coin that from every angle seems to exude choice quality, its carefully crafted flan capturing the elements of the dies with ideal centering and not the least trace of bending or planchet undulations discernable even under high magnification. The crispness of the struck features and prevalence of mint luster is simply enviable, allowing with great ease for this classic cantonal design, usually only seen on taler coinage, to be appreciated in full. Entirely missing from all major collections of Swiss coinage we have been able to consult, including Stroehlin, Hirzel, the South Kensington Museum, Fatio, Hess-Leu's Schweizer Goldmünzen sale, and most notably Wunderly, and even as recently as the early 2000s, having been undocumented by Friedberg and the Standard Catalog of World Coins, it seems hardly a stretch to say that this piece may very well be unique; the only other possible representative is the plate coin in Friedberg, though no indication as to the weight of that specimen is provided. Easily imaginable in a finer technical grade, and a connoisseur's piece through and through. Ex. Leu Numismatik Auction 84 (October 2002, Lot 827); Schweizerischer Bankverein Auction 13 (January 1984, Lot 26) [cover lot]. From the Paramount Collection."
The only other 6 ducats for Zurich are KM A70 of 1646 and KM 74 of 1649. Other issues for 1624 include KM 43 (4 ducat), KM 42 (2 ducat), KM 38 (double thaler), KM 37 (thaler) and KM 40/41 (batzen).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 21 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 20.52 g.
Catalog reference: KM-A44 (Rare), Fr-442a (Very Rare), HMZ-Unl., Divo-Unl., Hirzel-Unl., Wunderly-Unl., Hürlimann-Unl.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Richter, Jürg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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