Passau 1779-HS ducat Fr-2076
This specimen was lot 673 in Künker Auction 424 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €4,200 (about US$5,947 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · PASSAU, BISTUM Leopold Ernst von Firmian, 1763-1783. Dukat 1779, München. Brustbild r. in geistlichem Ornat, am Armabschnitt die Signatur H · S · (Johann Heinrich Straub, Stempelschneider in München 1761-1782 )//Auf gekröntem Wappenmantel das vierfeldige Familienwappen mit Kreuz und Schildhaupt (Passau) sowie Mittelschild (Sigismunds- oder Leopoldskron), dahinter Krummstab und Schwert gekreuzt, darüber Kardinalshut mit herabhängenden Quasten, unten zu den Seiten die geteilte Jahreszahl 17 - 79 ·. Fr-2076; Kellner 179. GOLD. Von großer Seltenheit. Vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. (Germany, bishopric of Passau, Leopold Ernest of Firmian, 1763-83, ducat of 1779, Munich mint. Obverse: bust right in bishop's robes, initials on truncation; reverse: crowned and mantled five fold arms with escutcheon, crossed crozier and sword behind, cardinal's hat above, date below. Extremely rare, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
This ducat was accompanied by a thaler (Dav-2525). Leopold Ernst was also bishop of Seckau (1739-63) and coadjutor of Trento (1748-58) and helped emperor Joseph II establish compulsory education in the Hapsburg dominions. His uncle Leopold Anton was archbishop of Salzburg. The bishopric of Passau was annexed to Bavaria in 1803 and 1805.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 3,48 g
Catalog reference: KM 86, Kellner 176.
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 424: Münster, Osnabrück, and the Peace of Westphalia | The Fuggers, Leuchtenberg, and Passau | The Collection of a German Manufacturer and History Enthusiast, Part 3, e.g., Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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