View source for Fulda 1729 8 ducats Fr-1051

[[Image:H3096-30242o.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 3096, lot 30242]]
[[Image:H3096-30242r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 30242 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $108,000. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"Majestic 8 Ducat of Adolph von Dalberg. German States: [[German States, Fulda|Fulda]]. Adolph von Dalberg gold 8 Ducat 1729 MS60 NGC. Struck from Taler dies (cf. [[Fulda 1729 thaler Dav-2257|KM 74.1]]). A remarkable medallic presentation, certainly to be counted amongst the rarest emissions of the abbey. Reportedly just 5 taler-sized gold issues were produced throughout its entire history, 4 of which belong to the reign of Adolph. Struck to specifications that can only be described as special-purpose, when set against the other known 8 Ducat from Adolph's tenure, dated 1737 and presumed unique, the present piece seems to suggest a monetary, rather than purely presentational, purpose-- its rims decorated with finely formed denticles, rather than the flat, squared-off shape seen on more "medallic" issues such as the 1737. On the whole, the designs conform to his regular circulating coinage series, though with a deeply impressed and careful execution. These features may in fact suggest that such pieces laid at the heart of the vast sums that the abbot certainly would have expended in expanding Fulda's University and hospital, projects for which he would be memorialized. It would certainly be no stretch to see a coin of this weight easing in accounting and payments of the time, when its purchasing power alone must have been immense.

Despite only being designated as "Very Rare" by Friedberg (still no minor feat) whereas the 1737 8 Ducat is listed as "Unique," we would note that both pieces previously appeared at auction within 4 years of one another. While the 1737 brought 46,000 CHF in September 2007 at its last auction appearance, this coin achieved 96,000 CHF, clearly pointing to its superior desirability and utter scarcity on par with other key rarities of the series. Ex. UBS Gold & Numismatics Auction 56 (January 2003, Lot 1115). From the Paramount Collection."</blockquote> The abbot of Fulda issued gold coins at irregular intervals and the survivors are today rare. In 1752 he was promoted to bishop.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 28 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 27.66 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM 75, Fr-1051 (Very Rare), von Schluthess-Rechberg Collection-Unl., Reimmann-Unl., Schön-43.

''[[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.
* Michael, Thomas, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016. 
* Craig, William D., ''[[Germany|Germanic]] Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II,'' Mountain View, CA: 1954.
* <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:''
* [[Fulda 1729 thaler Dav-2257]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1729]]

[[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3096]][[Category: Gold ducats of Europe]]