The coin features Ferdinand III of Habsburg. (Numismatica Ars Clas via SWNS)
By James Gamble
A gold coin that had to be hidden from the Nazis is set to become the most expensive ever sold with an estimate of nearly $2m.
The rare 100 ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg, minted in the early 1600s, weighs around the same as a tin of soup.
It is set to be sold at auction alongside another 100 ducat coin, which is expected to sell for over $320,000.
The coins were part of a hoard of 15,000 that lay underground for over half a century after being buried by their anonymous collector, to prevent them from being looted during the Nazi invasion of mainland Europe.
The Traveler Collection is now being sold as the most valuable collection ever sold at auction, and is expected to fetch in excess of $100m (£74m) in total.
Numismatica Ars Classica's second auction of the collection, focusing on Central European coins, will take place in Switzerland in November.
(Numismatica Ars Clas via SWNS)
The auction will also mark the first time in history that two 100 ducat coins - the largest gold coin in historical times - have been offered in the same auction.
The 100 ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg was minted in 1629, when he was Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia.
The coin is made of an extraordinary 348.5g of fine gold, making it the largest denomination of European gold coins ever minted in historical times.
A hundred coins were minted as a donation from the young king to German princes won over to the Habsburg cause during the Thirty Years' War.
One of only three known specimens in the world, the coin has an initial auction estimate of $1,157,700, but is expected to realize close to $2m - making it the most expensive European gold coin ever sold at auction.
Similar coins to another 'gold giant' - the 100 ducat coin of the Polish king Sigismund III, minted in 1621 - have previously sold for the highest auction price for a Polish coin of all time at $2.16m (£1.6m), whilst this one has an auction price of $322,542 - though it is also expected to go for more.
The two coins - among the largest in the history of European numismatics - are the two standouts in a collection stacked with large gold coins.
A 10 ducat ‘Portugalöser’ coin minted in Hamburg between 1553 and 1566 represents the origin of this kind of large gold coin in the Central European region, and is expected to fetch nearly $70,000.
(Numismatica Ars Clas via SWNS)
Many of the coins in the auction also commemorate pivotal moments in the history of European wars, such as the highly prized 10 Ducat coin from the city of Sibiu.
The coin is a testimony of the Transylvanian civil war at the beginning of the 17th century, and is pipped to sell for nearly $140,000.
The remarkable collection of Central European coinage will be offered in a sale at the Hotel Bar Au Lac in Zürich, Switzerland, on November 6, with the previous auction of the traveller collection having fetched more than £5.5m in total.
The special collection was buried in Europe for over 50 years by its anonymous collector - known as the Traveler - to prevent the Nazis getting their hands on it during their invasion.
The collection spans all geographical areas and contains exceptionally rare coins in a state of preservation seldom seen in modern times.
Arturo Russo, Director of Numismatica Ars Classica, said: "Numismatica Ars Classica, after the great success of the first sale, is proud to present the first sale dedicated to Central Europe.
"This area is one of those collected by the Traveller in the most meticulous and systematic manner, and contains some incredible rarities.
"We are extremely proud that Christian Stoess, after retiring from his role at the Coin Cabinet of Berlin State Museums, has accepted to join our team.
"With his knowledge and expertise, we are sure the catalogues of the Traveler Collection of the Central Europe will become an important reference."
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