View source for Zurich 1649 6 ducats Fr-472

[[Image:H3096-30468o.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 3096, lot 30468]]
[[Image:H3096-30468r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 30468 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $66,000. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"Nearly Choice 6 Ducat From the Wunderly and Hirzel Collections. [[Switzerland, Zurich|Switzerland: Zurich]]. Canton gold 6 Ducat 1649/7 MS62+ NGC. Struck from Taler dies (cf. [[Zurich 1649 thaler Dav-4643|KM 72]]). A peculiar and most elusive 6 Ducat type, particularly owing to the reworked nature of the dies, most noticeable in the date on the reverse, where the final digit appears to be a 7 reworked from a 9. This same feature is known on both the talers and 1/2 talers of the same date, and suggests that the year may more properly be read as 1647 (as it has been recorded in past literature). Yet what strikes the viewer even more immediately is the coin's astounding state of preservation, its surfaces exuding an essentially choice quality earned through flaring luster, prominent die polish lines, and a general lack of friction from even the highest points of the design. The offering represents the sole example of which we are aware on the auction record; Haller's 1780 catalog of the Swiss Coin and Medal Cabinet merely notes that "some have one in gold," citing an example sold in 1759, and Hürlimann records a single specimen in the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum. An unmissable opportunity. Ex. Leu Numismatik Auction 84 (October 2002, Lot 903); Hans Wunderly Collection (Leo Hamburger Auction 93, October 1931, Lot 18); Hirzel von Escher Collection (though missing from Adolph Hess's 1888 catalog of his collection). From the Paramount Collection."</blockquote> The year 1649 also saw the issue of KM A75 (7 ducat), KM B75 (8 ducat), KM C75 (15 ducat), KM 69 (ducat), KM 59 (half ducat), KM 58 (quarter ducat), KM 73 (double thaler), KM 72 ([[Zurich 1649 thaler Dav-4643|thaler]]) and KM 70 (half thaler).

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 21 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 20.80 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM 74 var. (Rare; overdate not noted), Fr-472 var. (Very Rare; same), HMZ-Unl., Divo-Unl., Haller-Unl. (see note to Haller-I-482), Wunderly-7 (RRR; this coin), Hürlimann-95 (date given as 1647).

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* 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.
* <sup>[1]</sup>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.

''Link to:''
* [[Zurich 1646 ducat Fr-459|1646 ducat]]
* [[Zurich 1646 8 ducats Fr-470|1646 8 ducats]]
* [[Zurich 1647 8 ducats Fr-470|1647 8 ducats]]
* [[Zurich 1649 1/2 thaler|1649 half thaler]]
* [[Zurich 1649 thaler Dav-4643|1649 thaler]]
* [[Zurich 1651 thaler Dav-4645|1651 thaler]]
* [[Zurich 1651 ducat Fr-473|1651 ducat]]
* [[Zurich (1678) 10 ducats Fr-456]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1649]]

[[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3096]][[Category: Gold ducats of Europe]][[Category: Coinage of the Swiss cantons]]