Austria 1612 10 ducats Fr-89
This specimen was lot 30101 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $204,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Austria. Matthias II gold 10 Ducat 1612 MS62 NGC, Vienna mint. Struck from Taler dies (cf. Dav-3041, KM 144). Inestimably rare in this conditional preservation, and likely one of the finest survivors of the type, featuring the smaller, crowned bust of Holy Roman Emperor Matthias II. Friedberg appears somewhat inconsistent in his listing of the type, plating an example of this very issue for Fr-97 and Fr-97a (1612 20 Ducat and 1610 10 Ducat, respectively). The cited reference number, Fr-89, lists an undated 10 Ducat. Regardless of any incompleteness, all of these issues are noted as "Very Rare," and auction records fully confirm this, with only a handful having been auctioned in the last two decades; of those, none were finer than the present specimen. Dazzling with radiance at every turn, this well-struck offering presents strong definition throughout the majority of its designs, with only a small portion of softness visible in the lower section of the inner reverse border. The centrally positioned dies yield an even rim to serve as an impressive visual frame to the central motifs, and while faint hairlines preclude a finer designation, they are not distracting in the least. Clearly a specimen of stellar quality, currently the sole example of the type certified by NGC, and an offering that would be exceedingly difficult to surpass. From the Paramount Collection."
This design also appeared on an eight ducats (Fr-90), four ducats (Fr-90a), five ducats (Fr-91) and single ducat (Fr-92). All are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 35 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 34.93 g.
Catalog reference: KM 155 (Rare), Fr-89 (Very Rare, listed as "No Date"), Horsky-Unl.
- 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.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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