Denmark 1746-A 2 ducats Fr-253

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Stack's Bowers sale of the L. E. Bruun Collection, lot 1142
SB924-1142r.jpg

This specimen was lot 1142 in Stack's Bowers sale of the L. E. Bruun Collection (Copenhagen, September 2024), where it sold for €44,400 (about US$49,204 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"Stunning 2 Ducats Struck with Gold from Imperial China, DENMARK. 2 Ducats, 1746. Copenhagen Mint. Frederik V. NGC MS-65★. Mintmaster: I. M. Wineke. Engraver: Magnus Gustavus Arbien (A). Of the HIGHEST RARITY, this most pleasing Double Ducat features an appeal that combines occident and orient. The beautiful flan struck on Chinese gold displays impressive details, with bright details that are sparkling with frosty luster. The fields shine, and finding even a single fault is difficult. About as alluring as one could ever expect an example of this desirable type, and as such, a piece that will generate enthusiasm from across the numismatic spectrum.

As the text, EX AURO SINICO ("From Chinese gold") reveals, this type was stuck from Chinese gold traded for silver by the Danish Asiatic Company acting under protection by the king (REGALIBUS AUSPICIIS). The Danish Asiatic Company was the successor to the Danish East India Company founded in 1730, and began trade with Qing China at Canton. Traveling through the Danish outposts on the Indian Subcontinent, the Danish Asiatic Company found little success and lost its monopoly on Danish trade with the Orient in 1772. All former outposts became crown colonies a few years later, ending the brief run of the Company."

Frederik V was an alcoholic and a libertine popular because of his pacific foreign policy and his rejection of the dull Pietism of his father, Christian VI. The year of his accession saw the issue of five different ducats (Fr-252, Fr-254, Fr-256, Fr-258, Fr-264) and four different double ducats (Fr-251, Fr-253, shown here, Fr-257, Fr-263).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.98 g, 0.979 fine gold, this specimen 6.97 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-253; KM-555; Hede-4A; Sieg-25.1; Schou-4; Bruun-7604.

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.
  • Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio, Jeremy Bostwick and Henrik Holt Christensen, The L. E. Bruun Collection - A Corpus of Scandinavian Monetary History Part I, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

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