Catalog
21/2 Ducats - Aureus Magnus Second Vatican Council
| Issuer | Germany, Federal Republic of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1963 |
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| Currency | Aureus Magnus |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | CONCILIUM VATICANUM IOH XXIII 1962 1963 PAUL VI |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
The Second Vatican Council ran from October 1962 to December 1965, and this piece was struck during the council's second session in 1963 — the same year Pope John XXIII died and Paul VI assumed the papacy, inheriting the task of steering the council to its conclusion. The "Aureus Magnus" designation places it within a West German private medal and ducat tradition that had no legal tender status but was struck to recognized bullion coin weights for the collector and investment market.
The .980 fineness is notably higher than the standard .986 ducat purity, a deliberate commercial distinction made by the issuing house rather than a state mint.