Transylvania 1621-NB ducat Fr-367

Heritage sale 3067, lot 35154

This specimen was lot 35154 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $1,380. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Transylvania: Gabriel Bethlen gold Ducat 1621-NB AU58 Details (Bent) ANACS, Nagybánya mint. Obv. Bareheaded, draped, and mantled bust right, wearing high collar. Rev. The Madonna seated facing on crescent, holding Holy Infant. Quite attractive and well preserved despite the noted deficiencies in the flan." 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, with the mintmark on reverse and a larger bust, was struck 1621-27.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.50 g, 0.986 fine gold.

Catalog reference: Fr-367, KM 139.

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.
• Adolf Resch, Siebenburgische Münzen und Medaillen von 1538 bis Gegenwart. Hermannstadt, 1901 (reprinted in Montreal, 1965).
• ^[1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.

Link to:

• 1620-KB ducat
• 1621-KB thaler
• 1621-NB thaler
• 1621-KB ducat, Gabriel Bethlen
• 1621-KN 10 ducats, Gabriel Bethlen
• 1625-NB ducat
• Coins and currency dated 1621