Basel (1780) ducat Fr-48
This specimen was lot 32269 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $3,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "Switzerland: Basel. City gold Ducat ND (1750-1780) MS62 NGC, Light, original toning and full mint brilliance. A highly interesting type with strong details. Similar to the listings in the Standard Catalog of World Coins but with NOVUS added to the reverse legend. A choice piece and rare in mint state. From the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection." The mythical creature on the obverse is a basilisk. All the ducats of Basel are scarce to rare, including this one, the last one issued by the city.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 177 var., Fr-48, HMZ-2-94a.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- Richter, Juerg, and Ruedi Kunzmann, Neuer HMZ-Katalog, Band 2: Die Münzen der Schweiz und Liechtensteins 15//16. Jahrhundert bis Gegenwart, Regenstauf, Germany: H. Gietl Verlag GmbH, 2006.
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