Baden 1738 ducat Fr-139
This specimen was lot 1124 in Sincona sale 38 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 4,250 CHF (about US$5,097 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Baden-Durlach, Markgrafschaft, Karl Friedrich, unter Vormundschaft der Gräfin Magdalena Wilhelmina und des Grafen Karl August, 1738-1745 Dukat 1738. Zur Huldigung in Badenweiler. Sehr selten. Vorzüglich-FDC. Kleiner Kratzer. (Germany, margraviate of Baden-Durlach, Charles Frederick, under regency, 1738-45, gold ducat of 1738. To the homage of Badenweiler, Very rare, Extremely fine-uncirculated, Minor scratches.)"
Friedberg lists four different ducats for 1738, all rare, all with the same obverse. The SCWC only shows one (equivalent to Fr-138), the rest are consigned to the Unusual World Coins. This ducat commemorates the loyalty offered by the town of Badenweiler in the Black Forest; the city arms are attached to the column on the reverse. The Latin motto, "OBSEQUIUM IURARE PARATA," means "Ready to swear [loyalty]."
Recorded mintage: 260.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW, this specimen 3.78 g.
Catalog reference: KM XM4, Wielandt 666. Fr-139.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- 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.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 38, Gold Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2017.
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