Salzburg. Maximilian Gandolph gold 8 Ducat 1668 MS63 S Prooflike NGC, KM202, Fr-800, Probszt-1595, Zöttl-1910. 27.80gm. In a word, stunning. That a coin produced centuries ago could survive to the present and retain the aesthetic marvelousness displayed here is an amazing feat. This emission more than earns its "star" for exceptional visual quality, and though we will attempt to summarize just how beautiful the coin is in hand, it seems impossible to fully justify how impressive it truly is. For one, and perhaps foremost, the strike is exemplary. Needle-sharp detailing defines the visual motifs, rendered to such precision that not even a hint of weakness is noted throughout the designs. Within the contours of the devices, including the obverse facing saints, a speckling of golden frost endows their figures and the church underneath with an opulent texturing. While enhancing their presentation on its own, this feature produces a sublime contrast against the fields below, which reveal an intense gold-foil luster that bows toward the raised areas, shimmering distinctively in direct light to create a dazzling backdrop for the immersive central features. Even minor distracting marks can occasionally accompany a choice certification, yet no such signs are evident across the entirety of the surfaces, which yield a palpable visual grandeur that would be exceedingly difficult to surpass in any survivor of the series. An ideal type coin, and an offering that is sure to appeal to any collector seeking only the absolute finest quality.

HID09801242017

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