Poland 1649-GP ducat Fr-94

Stack's Bowers 2023 NYINC sale, lot 24017

This specimen was lot 24017 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $78,000. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"Charming Ducat In Beautiful Mint State Condition, POLAND. Ducat, 1649-G P. Krakow Mint. John Casimir. PCGS MS-62. Obverse: John Casimir standing right, holding scepter and globus cruciger, dressed in coronation mantle; Reverse: Crowned four field coat-of-arms. Originating from the Krakow Mint, this Ducat presents a splendid state of preservation, serving as a wonderful archetypal coin of John Casimir. The strike is full and complete, with essentially no evidence of friction seen on the surfaces, and a glowing aurum sheen that emanates. A piece that is stunning to hold in one's hand, this Ducat certain does not lack for desirability. From the Anthony J. Taraszka Collection. Ex: UBS 49 (09/2000) Lot #2379."

This is one of several gold ducats (KM 79, 80, 81, 33) issued during 1649. All are rare but this one is the most expensive.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3.36 g.

Catalog reference: KM 80, Fr-94; H-Cz-5860 (R7); Kop-1848 (R7); Kur-599 (R8); Gum-1786.

Sources:

• 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.

Link to:

• Thorn 1647-GR ducat Fr-58
• Danzig (1648) 4 ducats, Jan Casimir
• 1649-GP thaler, Krakow mint
• Danzig 1649-GR ducat, Jan Casimir
• Danzig (1649-68)-GR 3 ducats Fr-30
• Danzig 1651-GR ducat Fr-24
• Coins and currency dated 1649