Courland 1764-ICS ducat Fr-3

Heritage sale 3073, lot 31688

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 31688 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $13,200. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Courland. Ernst Johann Biron gold Ducat 1764-ICS AU53 NGC, Mitau mint. A well struck example with light evidence of handling as noted by the grade. A classic rarity and desirable type. The only example certified by either PCGS or NGC, and the sole piece we could find having been offered at auction since 2012." Ernest Biron was a puppet of Anna, empress of Russia and was installed in Courland (now western Latvia) to assure continued Russian domination of the Baltic states and northeast Poland.

Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.

Specification: 3.50 grams, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: KM 30, Fr-3, Kop-4103.

Source:

• 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.

Link to:

• Courland 1762 solidus Karl Christian Joseph of Saxony
• Courland 1762 groschen Karl Christian Joseph of Saxony
• 1780 ducat
• Coins and currency dated 1764
• return to coins of Poland