Transylvania 1683-AF ducat Fr-448

Heritage sale 3029, lot 30308

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 30308 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $8,518.75. The catalog description^[1] noted, "A Transylvanian Conditional Rarity Michael Apafi gold Ducat 1683-AF, MS62 NGC. Obv. Bust right with fur cap and scepter. Rev. Crowned arms with date. Fully lustrous, with an elaborate reverse design. Very rare in Mint State." The princes of Transylvania were sandwiched between the Ottoman Empire to the south and the Hapsburg dominions to the west and attempted to maintain independence from both. The Hapsburgs reconquered Hungary from the Turks in the 1680's and ended Transylvanian autonomy. This type is listed for 1678-90.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.5 g, .986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: KM 476, Fr-448.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.

Link to:

• 1682-AF ducat
• 1684-AI thaler
• 1685 hexagonal ducat
• 1689-AF ducat, Michael Apafi
• 1689 10 ducats
• Coins and currency dated 1683
• return to coins of Transylvania