Sweden 1738-HM 1/2 ducat Fr-65
This specimen was lot 1426 in Künker sale 352 (Osnabruck, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €3,200 (about US$4,454 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"SCHWEDEN, KÖNIGREICH, Friedrich I. 1720-1751. 1/2 Dukat 1738, Stockholm. GOLD. Attraktives Exemplar mit feinem Prägeglanz, vorzüglich. (kingdom of Sweden, Frederick I, 1720-51, half ducat of 1738, Stockholm mint. Attractive example with fine luster, extremely fine.)"
This coin with its trifling mintage is not even listed as rare in the SCWC, demonstrating how underrated the minors are compared to the well-studied riksdalers. The last half ducat was issued in 1755.
Recorded mintage: 402 (assayer GZ) + unknown (assayer HM).
Specification: 1.74 g, 0.976 fine gold, this specimen 1.72 g.
Catalog reference: KM 422, Ahlström 46; Fr-65; SMH 17.2.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Bjorne Ahlström, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokforlaget AB, 1976.
- Delzanno, Roberto, Myntårsboken 2022, Sveriges Mynt 995-2021, 1:a upplagen, Stockholm, 2021.
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 352: Die Sammlung Hermann Schwarz: Faszination des gepragten Goldes. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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