Hungary 1547-KB denar
This specimen was lot 1927 in SINCONA Auction 97 (Zürich, May 2025), where it sold for 3,500 CHF (about US$5,077 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"RDR / ÖSTERREICH, Ferdinand I. 1521-1564. 1/2 Dukat 1547 KB, Kremnitz. Goldabschlag von Denar. Sehr selten. Fast vorzüglich. (Holy Roman Empire, Ferdinand I, 1521-64, half ducat of 1547, Kremnitz mint, struck using denar dies. Very rare, About Extremely Fine.)"
Ludwig II, the last king of Hungary, was killed at the battle of Mohacs in 1526, leaving his beleaguered domain to be partitioned between the Turks and the Hapsburgs. Ferdinand I was emperor at the time and claimed all of Hungary but had to content himself with a small slice in the west. The Hapsburgs would not conquer the rest of Hungary and Transylvania until the end of the seventeenth century. The regular silver denar was struck in large numbers at several mints (Hermannstadt, Pressburg, Nagybánya and Kremnitz, shown here) 1528-59. A klippe version (KM MB152) exists.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 0.58 g, 0.500 fine silver, 28 mm diameter, this specimen gold, 1.69 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB115, Huszar 902, Fr-53.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 97: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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