Salzburg. Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau gold 25 Ducat 1594 UNC Details (Obverse Graffiti) NGC, Fr-666 (Unique), BR-Unl., Probszt-Unl., Numitor Collection-Unl., Zöttl-820. 87.35gm. An absolutely stunning coin, due in part to its considerable size, but even more so for its artistic beauty. This issue is among the most coveted series in all of Austrian coinage, and though these "tower" gold multiples of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau have often been reported as soldiers' pay, a piece of this weight could hardly have met that purpose pragmatically--its purchasing power alone far exceeding what was likely typical for even a top-ranking officer. The second-largest denomination confirmed from the Prince-Archbishop's reign by Zöttl (who also notes the existence of a 30 Ducat), this weight was entirely unrecorded by either Bernhart and Roll or Probszt, and was also missing from both Leo Hamburger's September 1921 Notable Collection of Salzburg Coins and Medals as well as Künker's September 2015 sale of the Numitor Collection (both of which only contained a 10 Ducat of this date). Appreciably medallic from all angles, both the fields and margins contain flashy, original luster. Graffiti in the form of the number 25 (Z5) is viewed across the obverse field, but is likely a contemporaneous inscription of the coin's impressive denomination. By all accounts a unique piece, and one set to shatter auction records for Salzburg gold multiples.

HID09801242017

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