Cologne 1577 2 ducats Fr-812

Stack's Bowers 2021 NYINC sale, lot 20198

This specimen was lot 20198 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $5,040. The catalog description^[1] noted, "GERMANY. Cologne. 2 Ducats, 1577. Salentin von Isenburg. NGC EF Details--Removed from Jewelry. Obverse: TORRNTEM PER TRANSIVIT AIA NRA, armored bust left; Reverse: SALEN D G ELECT EC COL ET ADM PAD, garnished coat-of-arms. Though this example exhibits some minor flan waviness likely emanating from its time in jewelry, it nevertheless remains an INCREDIBLY RARE survivor that is almost never encountered. The color has more of a pale yellow-gold hue, while the overall detail remaining is solid, the coin obviously having not circulated much before beginning its new life. Ex: Stack's (1/2008) Lot # 2635." The archbishopric of Cologne, like Mainz and Trier, was an ecclesiastical state along the river Rhine whose ruler was one of the Electors of the Empire.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold.

Catalog reference: Fr-812.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., Thomas Michael and Douglas Nicol, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd Ed. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
• 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

Link to:

• 1570 goldgulden
• 1575 ducat
• Coins and currency dated 1577