Minted Danzig ducat from the issue of the wide, "fleshy" ducats of Sigismund III.
A beautiful coin with a natural mirror background. Gently deficient on the king's eye, falling on the lion's head. Other than that, sharp in detail; lovely. Appreciated with a rare MS type note for gold of the Royal Polish period.
Ducats of the 1612 vintage are an issue maintained in a uniform style, by the hand of a single engraver. They differ mainly in royal titulature and details on the reverse. The present one is a variety with large "12" numerals in the date, a branch above the shield with three flowers and a titulature ending in L.R.P.
Difficult to acquire, especially in such beautiful states.
Polish gold from the royal era is one of the numismatic rarities. The Republic, having no gold resources (mines) of its own, issued only small quantities of coins in this precious metal. In monetary circulation, native gold coinage was, in many periods, even an adjunct to foreign, mainly Dutch, ducats circulating in the country.
