Very rare 1/3 ducat struck under the reign of Emperor Leopold I Habsburg (1657–1705), ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, King of Hungary and Bohemia, and sovereign of Silesia.
The Oppeln mint, operating within the Habsburg monetary system, produced very limited issues, and fractional ducats such as this 1/3 ducat were among the rarest. These coins were struck in extremely small numbers, primarily for prestige, ceremonial, or high-value commercial purposes, rather than for everyday circulation.
Variety with arabesque above and below the date on side of the globus cruciger.
In the world’s largest archive, CoinArchives, this type has been recorded only five times over many years.
Mount removed. Lustrous coin with plenty of mint bloom.
This coin is classified in the specialized catalogue of Leopold I’s Silesian coinage by D. Golek with the rarity degree R7, corresponding to only 5–10 specimens known to the author.
Obverse: beneath an ornamental cross, a wreath enclosing a shield; in the field the denomination 1/3, flanked by the date 1690
Reverse: imperial double-headed eagle with the Habsburg coat of arms on its chest
Gold, diameter mm, weight 1.16 g
