Regensburg (1745-50)-ICB ducat Fr-2539
The first specimen was lot 3221 in Sincona sale 43 (Zurich, October 2017), where it sold for 2,600 CHF (about US$3,103 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Regensburg, City, Dukat o. J. (1746-1751). Mit Titel Franz I. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Germany, city of Regensburg, undated ducat, struck in the name of Francis I, Very fine-extremely fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 5237 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabruck, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €6,500 (about US$9,046 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"REGENSBURG, STADT, Dukat o. J. (1745-1765), mit Titel von Franz I. GOLD. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Feiner Prägeglanz, vorzüglich +. (Germany, German States, Regensburg|city of Regensburg]], undated ducat, struck in the name of Francis I. Scarce in this quality, fine luster, extremely fine or better.)"
This gold ducat was one of a series (half ducat (Fr-2539), double ducat (Fr-2537), triple ducat (Fr-2536)) issued to honor the new emperor Franz I, husband of Maria Theresia of Austria. As Regensburg had supported his rival, Bavarian Karl VII, this may have be presented by way of atonement.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW; the first specimen is 3.48 g, the second specimen 3,46 g.
Catalog reference: KM 306, Beckenbauer 448. Fr-2538.
- 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.
- Craig, William D., Germanic Coinages: Charlemagne through Wilhelm II, Mountain View, CA: 1954.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 43, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2017.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 354: Munzen und Medaillen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. Braunschweig-Luneburg. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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