Mansfeld-Bornstedt 1687 ducat Fr-1573
The first specimen was lot 4029 in Goldberg sale 41 (Beverly Hills, May 2007), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Mansfeld. Ducat, 1687. Franz Maximilian and Heinrich Franz, 1644-1692. Obv. St. George slaying the dragon. Leg: .FRAZ.MAX.HEINR.FRANZ.COMITIN MANSFELT Reverse: Crowned arms within chain of the Golden Fleece. Leg: .NOB.DOM.INHELD -- UNGEN.SEB.E.SER. NGC graded AU-55. Mansfeld is an example of how an ancient noble family can be ruined by hereditary divisions. The original Mansfeld, located north of Saxony, stems from the eleventh century. Yet the county was subdivided so many times, that it lost its power and prestige. Located in the Harz Mountains, large deposits of silver produced tremendous numbers of silver coins, but few gold ones. This is a tough coin to find." The second specimen was lot 30081 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $3,055. The catalog description[2] noted, "Highly Artistic Type Mansfeld-Bornstedt. Franz Maximilian & Heinrich Franz gold Ducat 1687, AU58 NGC. One-year type. A wonderful illustration ducat with a skilled rendering of Saint George on horseback slaying a dragon on the obverse, and crowned arms encircled by the Order of the Golden Fleece on the reverse. A rather desirable example, this coin has bright orange-gold surfaces and above-average central definition as a result of the penetrating strike. Ideal for the ducat collector, or even perhaps even the British collector that finds interest in the paralleled imagery." The next ducat (Fr-1574) was issued in 1747.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.44 grams, 22.22 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-1573; KM-135.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, and Larry Goldberg, Goldberg Sale 41: the Pre-Long Beach Sale, Beverly Hills: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2007.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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