Ducat - August III Sas Gdańsk mint

August III became King of Poland in 1733 only after a brief war of succession ousted Stanisław Leszczyński, who had the backing of France and a majority of the Polish nobility. The Gdańsk mint struck this ducat the following year while the city itself was still recovering from a months-long French-backed siege — French forces had held the city in support of Leszczyński until May 1734, when it finally capitulated to Russian and Saxon troops.

The Gdańsk mint operated with considerable autonomy under its municipal charter, which is why the city's name appears on the issue rather than a royal mint attribution. Fr#42 is among the scarcer ducats of the reign.