Leopold I gold "Coronation of Joseph I" Medal of 100 Ducats ND (1690)-GFN MS61 Prooflike NGC, Montenuovo-1221 var. (there, in silver), Horsky-2416 var. (same), Julius-520 (cover lot). 80mm. 348.33gm. By Martin Brunner and George Friedrich Nürnberger. AN REICHS DUKATEN GOLD NETTO HUNDERT DUCATEN IN BANCO on edge. A massive specimen commissioned upon the coronation of Leopold's son Joseph (later Emperor Joseph I), and certainly awe-inspiring in every way. The fields roll with a mirrorlike finish beneath minor marks, while the intricate reverse scene contains a full family tree of the Habsburg emperors from Rudolf I to Leopold I, each depicted in a small medallion. For the sake of accuracy, we note some light cabinet friction on the higher points of Leopold's hair, though this proves quite minor, considering both the sheer relief of the features and the fact that, as indicated by the edge inscription, such pieces could have encountered use in trade as monetary objects. Deemed as the "absolute highlight" of the 2003 Hesso-Divo sale, we know of one other example in gold, which brought 10,000 German Marks as part of R. Gaetten's sale of the Julius Collection in July 1958 (an enormous sum of money and the highest price achieved in the sale, where most other lots brought between 80 and 250 Marks, the next highest lot bringing 1,775 Marks). An absolutely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ex. Hess-Divo Auction 295 (May 2003, Lot 75); Rudolf Just Collection (Sotheby's December 2001, Lot 350)
HID09801242017
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Price realized | 300'000 USD |
Starting price | 37'000 USD |
Estimate | 100'000 USD |