Owner Comments:
1792 Ducat - Design: OBVERSE: Wild man standing looking left, leaning on a club and a shield with the Danish coat of arms; three crowned lions on a golden ground w/ scattered hearts; the date divided 17 – 92. The die-engraver’s initial “B” in front of his right foot. Legend: MONETA • AUREA •DANCIA • ~ REVERSE: A five-line inscription on a richly ornamental tablet. Inscription reads 1 •SPECIES DUCAT 23•½•K•ARAT 67•STYKKER 1•MARK•BRUTO
Mint: Copenhagen
Mintage: 1792 = ? but total of 16,915 for the four years minted (1791,1792,1794,1802)
References: KM #650 / Fr. 283
Specifications: Diameter – 21.8mm
Weight – 3.4900 g. @ 0.9790 Gold = .1098 oz AG W
Acquired: March 2009
Providence: None
Notes:
Ø Minted during reign of King Christian VII (1766-1808).
Ø The Die-engraver was Johan Ephraim Bauert.
Ø The obverse design was modeled in slightly altered form from the Albertdaler, which had been produced for Baltic Trade since 1781. The reverse is similar to the Netherlands ducat but differes in that the value, fineness and standard weight of the coin are found. 67 of these coins were to be struck from a mark (refers to the Cologne mark of 233.856 grams) therfore the basis for the design weight of 3.490 g.
Ø The decorated edge was incorporated into the design as a deterrent against unlawfully reducing the weight by clipping or filing.
Ø This coin belongs to a series known as species-ducats.
Ø The wild man—a figure from Germanic and Celtic mythology representing the 'Lord of the Beasts' or 'Green Man'. The wild man (men) figure appears in the artwork and literature of medieval and early modern Europe. Wild men are depicted as supporters on the coat of arms of Denmark as well the coat of arms of several German States and Dutch towns and cities. (ie. Prussia)