The rarest coronation ducat of Jan II Casimir.
So far unlisted at auction in Poland.
Not described in reference catalogs: for Vasa gold coins (J. Dutkowski) and medals (E. Raczynski). By Emeryk Hutten-Czapski described by a very high degree of rarity of R7, where the other variety of these ducats he rated only at R3.
The coronations of 1649 are the oldest gold coins of John Casimir. Their issuance was connected with the celebration of his coronation as King of Poland, which took place on January 17 at Wawel Cathedral. In keeping with tradition, coronation tokens were prepared, in silver and gold. The latter based on the current monetary rate - in turn, the weight of a ducat and a two-ducat. They constituted gifts for those celebrating this important day.
As we can read in the work of King John's court historiographer Joachim Pastorius, these tokens were distributed and scattered by the Great Treasurer of the Crown, Maximilian Ossolinsky. The gold ones were distributed during the homagium at Wawel, while the silver ones were distributed during the procession's journey through the Krakow market square.
Two different reverse stamps were prepared for minting the ducats - differing, among other things, in the arrangement of the inscription with the date of the king's coronation. They are coronets with the inscription "CORONATV9..." under a hand holding an elaborate padlock, and noticeably rarer ones with an inscription around that hand, like the present piece.
Rarity.
The type has occurred at auction only once in the 21st century, and it was this piece (Künker auction 380 item 321). From old, pre-war collections known only from the collection of Z. Chelminski (Munich 1904). Perhaps this is the piece (not illustrated on the plates, no weight given).
A very nice piece. Coin removed from binding, but no signs of wear, weight loss. With preserved natural mint luster and good relief.
Very attractive, especially considering its rarity.
Gold, diameter ~20 mm, weight 3.43 g.
Obverse: an armed hand coming out of a cloud, holding a Sheaf (the coat of arms of the Vasa dynasty), with a royal crown hovering over it. In the rim:
DOMI-NVS ASSUMPSIT ME(The Lord has accepted me).
Reverse: an armed hand coming out of the clouds, turning the circles of an elaborate padlock with the inscription IOANIS CASIMI-RVS. Around the hand CORONAT9 1649 D 17 IAN(crowned 1649, on January 17). In the rim the sentence:
EST DESVPER COMPACTV(in heaven it is deposited).
