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18 Ducat - John George I
| Issuer | Saxony (Albertinian Line), Electorate of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1627 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 62.44 g |
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| Reverse description | Elaborate multi-quartered electoral coat of arms of Saxony, richly adorned with baroque scrollwork and foliate mantling, surmounted by five ornate crested helmets with their respective crowns and heraldic devices. The shield displays the numerous quarterings of the Saxon electoral dignities. The surrounding Latin legend reads S.A.C.R. ROM. IMP. ARCHIM. ET ELECT., with the date 1627 divided in the lower field, all within a beaded border. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The 18-ducat denomination was a showpiece, not a currency. Saxon electors commissioned these heavy gold multiples primarily as diplomatic gifts and court presentation pieces — they circulated among princes, not pockets. John George I was a notably cautious player during the opening years of the Thirty Years' War, initially resisting involvement before eventually siding with the Protestant Union at a moment of considerable political risk.
Fr#2688A is among the rarer Fremersdorf listings for this elector, with surviving examples thin enough that auction appearances generate significant specialist attention. The 1627 date falls just after the war's catastrophic spread into Lower Saxony.