AT AN international auction of rare coins and banknotes held in Bratislava on Saturday, October 20, a Slovak purchaser sold a double ducat of King Leopold I from around 1664 for €36,000. The coin is unique, the only known piece from this year minted on the territory of Slovakia. This most-precious coin, bearing the name of Leopold I, is made of gold and weighs less than seven grams. It was minted in Kremnica. On the coin, the emperor is portrayed holding a sceptre and on the mound on the opposite side there is Madonna with a baby, surrounded by rays.
Kremnica double ducats from the reign of Leopold I are extremely rare, and only a few collectors have had the chance to see one, auction organiser Elizej Macho Jr, told the TASR newswire. The asking price was €25,000 but bids rose to €36,000. Both experts and the auctioneer consider this a sensible investment, though. Such exclusive pieces are mostly auctioned anonymously, then remain a part of family collections for several decades. No one can tell when the public will get the chance to see this unique piece again, said banker Miloš Šelest, who auctioned the coin for his client.
