One of the most impressive world coins sold last week at the Stack’s Bowers Galleries January New York International Numismatic Convention Auction was the marvelous city-view of Nurnberg 8 Ducat issue. This magnificent piece realized $78,000 (including the buyer’s premium).
A large mailed bust of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI dominates the obverse design, with his titles around. The reverse offers the more immersive visual: a splendid (if somewhat distant) view of the city featuring portions of the old imperial castle, St. Sebaldus and St. Lorenz churches. The image of this "Free City" is watched over by a great eagle, wearing the crown of Charlemagne and holding a scepter and orb (symbols of temporal and religious power). Above, the Latin legend translates to: "Safe and Secure under the August Lord God" and features a chronogram (the larger letters double as Roman numerals, and when added together equal 1721). Additionally, this marvelous piece bears the fantastic provenance of once being owned by the famous specialist of Nurnberg coinage: Herbert J. Erlanger.
We are currently taking consignments of world and ancient coins as well as world paper money for the June 2019 Collector’s Choice Online Auction and the August 2019 ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. We are also accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our August 2019 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) contact one of our consignment directors.
