Bohemia 1744 ducat Fr-53a

Jean Elsen sale 149, lot 1371

This specimen was lot 1371 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €2,600 (about US$3,521 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"SAINT EMPIRE, Marie-Thérèse (1740-1780), AV ducat, 1744, Prague. D/ L'impératrice deb. à d., ten. un sceptre et un gl. cr. R/ Ecu dans un cartouche orné et couronné. Très rare Coups. Traces de monture. Très Beau. (Holy Roman Empire, Maria Theresia, 1740-80, gold ducat of 1744, Prague mint. Obverse: the empress stands, facing right, holding a scepter and an orb; reverse: crowned arms in an ornate cartouche. Very rare, nicks, traces of mounting, Very Fine.)"

This somewhat scarce type was struck at Prague 1743-45. Later types featuring her bust and that of her husband Francis (KM 751, KM 756) are very common.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3,44 g.

Catalog reference: KM 739 (listed under Bohemia), Fr-53a, Her. 165; Eypeltauer 11; Dietiker 1083; Halacka 1937.

Sources:

• Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
• 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.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.

Link to:

• 1741 ducat, Vienna mint
• 1743 ducat, Prague mint
• 1744 quarter thaler
• 1744 thaler
• 1745 half thaler, Prague mint
• 1745-AS IE 5 ducats, Francis I
• 1747 ducat, Maria Theresia, Karlsberg mint
• 1749 ducat, Maria Theresia, Prague mint
• Coins and currency dated 1744