View source for Julich-Berg 1710 ducat Fr-1394

[[Image:K400-00153.jpg|550px|thumb|Künker sale 400, lot 152]]

This specimen was lot 153 in Künker sale 400 (Berlin, February 2024), where it sold for €13,000 (about US$16,865 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"''JÜLICH-BERG, HERZOGTUM, Johann Wilhelm II. 1679-1716. Dukat 1710, Düsseldorf. 3.43 g. D . G · I . W . C · P . S · R . - I · ARCHID . ET EL · Kopf r.//REDIT . VNDE . VENIT . 23 . IVN . 1708 Verziertes Wappen mit Reichapfel, oben Kurhut, zu den Seiten die geteilte Jahreszahl 17 - 10. GOLD. Von größter Seltenheit. Prachtexemplar. Vorzüglich-Stempelglanz.'' ([[Germany]], [[German States, Julich-Berg|duchy of Julich-Berg]], John William II, 1679-1716, ducat of 1710, Dusseldorf mint. Obverse: head right; reverse: baroque shield with imperial orb, ducal crown above, divides the date. Extremely rare, choice example, extremely fine to uncirculated.)
<p>''Johann Wilhelm übernahm in Jülich-Berg bereits 1679 die Regierung von seinem Vater Philipp Wilhelm, der als pfälzischer Kurfürst bis zu seinem Tod 1690 regierte. Nach dem Regierungsantritt in der Pfalz war Johann Wilhelm in den Pfälzer und in den Spanischen Erbfolgekrieg verwickelt. Als entschiedener Förderer der Gegenreformation schuf er sich vor allem unter den protestantischen Reichsfürsten zahlreiche Feinde. In seinem eigenen Land machte sich "Jan Wellem", wie der Kurfürst im Volksmund in Jülich-Berg genannt wurde, u. a. durch die Einrichtung einer Kunstsammlung in der Residenz Düsseldorf, durch den Neubau der Heidelberger Universität und den Wiederaufbau Mannheims verdient. Es war ihm eine besondere Ehre, nach dem Tod Josephs I. das Reichsvikariat zu führen. Er feierte dieses Amt mit mehreren Münzen und Medaillen wie dem vorliegenden Dukaten, der ein aussagekräftiges Dokument der deutschen Verfassungsgeschichte ist.'' (Johann Wilhelm took over rule in Jülich-Berg in 1679 from his father Philipp Wilhelm, who was Elector of the Palatinate until his death in 1690. After taking office in the Palatinate, Johann Wilhelm was involved in the Palatinate and the War of the Spanish Succession. As a staunch supporter of the Counter-Reformation, he created numerous enemies, especially among the Protestant imperial princes. In his own domain, "Jan Wellem", as the elector was popularly known in Jülich-Berg, made a name for himself, among other things. earned through the establishment of an art collection in the Düsseldorf Residence, through the new building of the Heidelberg University and the reconstruction of Mannheim. It was a particular honor for him to be the Imperial Vicar after the death of Joseph I. He celebrated this office with several coins and medals such as the present ducat, which is a document of German constitutional history.)"</p></blockquote> The native dynasty of dukes, which ruled Julich, Berg, Mark and Cleve, fell extinct in 1609. Brandenburg and Pfalz-Neuburg fought a war over the inheritance and eventually partitioned it, Julich-Berg going to Pfalz-Neuberg, which ruled it until the French Revolution. The SCWC also records this issue as rare. Johann Wilhelm was also elector of the Palatinate 1690-1716 and had to bear the brunt of French attacks on the empire.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown. 

''Specification:'' 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM 141, Fr-1394; Noss 848. 

''[[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. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, ''Katalog 400: Selected löser of the Dukes of Guelph from the Friedrich Popken Collection | Numismatic treasures from the Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. "multiple portraits" from a Westphalian private collection,'' Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.

''Link to:''
* [[Julich-Berg 1709 1/6 thaler|1709 1/6 thaler]]
* [[Julich-Berg 1709 2/3 thaler KM-126|1709 ⅔ thaler, oval shields]]
* [[Julich-Berg 1710 1/4 ducat Fr-1395|1710 quarter ducat, vicariat]]
* [[Julich-Berg 1711-NP thaler Dav-2365|1711-NP thaler]]
* [[Julich-Berg 1711-NP ducat Fr-1403|1711-NP ducat]]
* [[Julich-Berg 1715-NP 1/6 thaler|1715-NP 1/6 thaler]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1710]]

[[Category:Selections from Kunker sale 400]][[Category: Gold ducats of Europe]]