Lot 563
German States -- Baden. 'Rhine Gold' Ducat, 1807 (Mannheim). Fr-148; KM-143; Kircheimer-48; Jaeger-5. 3.64 grams. Carl Fredrick, 1738-1811. Elderly head right. Reverse: The Rhine as a river god, resting among the shoals and reeds, holding a shield of arms; inscription: AVS RHEINSAND, in exergue, "22 ½ KAR. / 1807". A few light marks, mainly on portrait's cheek, otherwise as struck -- sharp, with frosty cameo devices and prooflike fields. Very rare. A mintage of only 972 pieces. NGC graded MS-65 Prooflike.
Germany's mineral assets were obtained either from the mountains or from gold panning along the rivers. While the mining of gold by means of excavation was strictly regulated, apparently anyone, for a small fee, could obtain a license to do panning or gold washing. These permits generally stipulated that the gold recovered would be delivered to the issuing authorities or mint, where it would be purchased at a set price. Sometimes the gold recovered in this manner would be struck up into coins -- usually ducats. From this practice, King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria was able to issue a small number of gold coins in 1821, similar to the above ducat, denoting on the coins' reverses that the gold originated from the Danube, Inn, Isar and Rhein rivers. The total mintage for that issue was about 1,100 pieces.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $8,338 |
