Featured The Three Hungarian Ducats of 1848

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by Jaelus, Apr 16, 2021.

  1. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    The year 1848 marked the last year of the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I & V due to his abdication, as well as the first year of the Hungarian War of Independence (1848-1849). Due to these unusual circumstances, there were three types of ducats struck in Hungary in 1848.

    I recently acquired the third and final 1848 ducat example in this tiny sub-set of my ducat collection, so I thought I would share the examples of this interesting year with you all.

    Hungary 1848E AU Imperial Ducat
    (Austria) KM-2262 (1837-1848)
    NGC MS60 TRANSYLVANIA

    1848_Ducat_Imperial_lg.jpg

    This first example is of the last year of the Imperial Austrian ducat type of Ferdinand I & V. This type was struck from 1837-1848. While it is classified as an Austrian Imperial type, in 1848 this coin was struck at the Hungarian mints of Körmöcbánya (B) and Gyulafehérvár (E) in Transylvania.

    This example is prooflike, though difficult to photograph. While it is an MS60, I have declined to upgrade this example a couple times (most recently to an MS64), due to the superior eye appeal in hand.

    Hungary 1848 AU Kingdom Dukát
    KM-425 (1837-1848)
    NGC MS62 KINGDOM

    1848_Ducat_Kingdom_lg.jpg

    This second example is of the last year of the Hungarian Kingdom ducat type of Ferdinand I & V. This type was struck from 1837-1848, though the general design had been in use for Hungarian ducats as early as the 16th century. The legends on this coin are in Latin, as with the Imperial ducat type above.

    Hungary 1848 AU War of Independence Dukát
    KM-433 (1848)
    NGC MS63 WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

    1848_Ducat_Rebellion_lg.jpg

    This third example is a one-year ducat type (save for pattern-only examples of 1849) struck by the Hungarians who took control of the Körmöcbánya mint in 1848 during the War of Independence. This type is extremely similar to the Hungarian Kingdom ducat type above, except that the legends are all in Hungarian instead of Latin. Of note, Emperor Ferdinand's Hungarian title of Ferdinand V is also used here instead of his Austrian title of Ferdinand I.

    Of note, the Kingdom and War of Independence types are sometimes misleadingly cataloged as S. Maria or Sz. Maria types. This focuses on the difference in the spelling of the word saint between Latin and Hungarian, but misses the point that the entirety of the legends are in different languages. It also misses what essentially defines the types; that one is a kingdom type and the other a rebellion type.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2021
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  3. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    lordmarcovan, The Eidolon and Jaelus like this.
  4. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    A very nice example of one of the earlier Hungarian ducats in this style.

    The 1848 ducats were actually the last Hungarian ducats produced in this style with the Saint Mary reverse. After the War of Independence, Hungary was under Austrian occupation until 1867. During the years 1852-1867 there were 4 circulating ducat types struck in Hungary which were Austrian style types, and then 4 non-circulating commemorative ducat types were struck for the coronation of 1867.

    After the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the last ducat produced in what is more or less this style was the ducat of 1868-1869. My example below from my collection, as well as the 1966 proof restrike:

    Hungary 1868GYF AU Dukát
    KM-448 (1868-1869)
    NGC MS62
    1D_1868GYF.png

    Hungary 1868KB UP AU Dukát
    1966 Artex Restrike (mintage of 250)
    NGC PF67
    restrike.jpg

    There was also a pattern-only issue ducat of 1870 that had this same obverse design, but a reverse that matched the redesigned middle shield types of 1870. Most catalogs don't list it, or erroneously include it in the ducat type of 1877-1881 (which is itself absurdly rare with a mintage of only 9,220 coins for all dates combined) calling that incorrectly an 1870-1881 type. There is also an 1870 ducat restrike, but it is a mule as it uses the obverse of the 1877-1881 type.
     
  5. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    Fascinating history, someday I hope to get a ducat with a Saint Mary reverse that's not a pendant! :D Beautiful gold coins, you have an awesome collection and the history is appreciated as well as the more I learn, the more I want to learn. :cigar:
     
    Jaelus likes this.
  6. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Awesome coins! Gold coins always look awesome though. xD

    I like the first type the best with the two-headed Eagle on the reverse.
     
  7. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    I know what you mean.

    Why do so many people turn coins into pendants?

    Don’t get me wrong I understand the person thinks it looks cool and wants to wear it but couldn’t they buy a replica or something? They make replicas of everything and you can even get them made of the actual precious metals used in the real ones.

    But I guess it’s their coin so they can do whatever they want with it. It just seems a shame since once a coin becomes a pendant it will always be “ex jewelry” designation.
     
    fretboard likes this.
  8. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    For some issues, the only reason we have nearly the survivorship we see was their popularity as jewelry. Better for a coin to survive as a pendant than to not survive at all.
     
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  9. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Yeah I know what you mean.

    I once saw a pendant that had a $4 Stella gold coin in it and my jaw dropped.

    $4 Stellas are insanely expensive as only a few hundred were produced but it’s better that it survived in a pendant than being melted down into a bar or deposited in the bank to be taken away in 1933 when Roosevelt took everyone’s gold away.
     
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  10. fretboard

    fretboard Defender of Old Coinage!

    You got that right, besides it being turned into a pendant was the only way I could afford it. :cigar: Gold ducats, like the one in my pendant are pricey and beyond my price range! :happy:
     
  11. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    That's true. It also allows collectors to get coins they couldn't normally afford if they have some problems rather than problem free coins which could cost a fortune.
     
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