Three Polish coins took the spotlight at a numismatic auction in Monaco. Among them, an 80-ducat coin featuring the likeness of Sigismund III Vasa, the King of Poland from 1587 to 1632, started with a bidding price of 1.3 million euros.
This exceptional coin, both in size and beauty, is believed to have been minted post the Battle of Chocim in 1621, where Catholic Polish-Lithuanian forces triumphed over the Ottoman Muslim army, marking a significant halt to Ottoman expansion. This historical context adds to the allure of the coin, as noted in the description provided by Monnaies de Collection (MDC), a numismatic auction house established in 2010 by expert Nicolas Gimbert.
Alongside this prestigious piece, the auction featured a 3-ducat coin portraying John II Casimir Vasa, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 to 1668, with a starting bid of 25 thousand euros. Additionally, another coin featuring Sigismund III Vasa started with a bidding price of 15 thousand euros.
The auction catalogue, boasting over 1,700 items, showcases a diverse range of numismatic treasures. However, none come close to the 80-ducat Polish king coin, minted in 1621 in the city of Bydgoszcz.
Following closely behind are two notable coins: a British coin featuring King George III, described as “one of the most spectacular achievements of British numismatics”, and a “family ruble” of Nicholas I from 1835. Both carry a starting bid of 350 thousand euros.
The ruble, bearing the likeness of the Russian tsar, commemorates his decade-long reign and is exceptionally rare, with only 36 pieces ever minted. Its obverse displays the profile of the tsar, the minting date, and the coin’s value, while the reverse features Alexandra Feodorovna, the tsar’s wife, surrounded by their seven children, including the future tsar Alexander II.
Monnaies de Collection hosts several auctions annually, attracting an international audience of coin enthusiasts. Previous auctions have also seen the presence of valuable Polish gold coins, fetching tens of thousands of euros.
For instance, in October 2022, a golden 5-ducat coin featuring John II Casimir Vasa started with a bidding price of 15 thousand euros and sold for 51 thousand euros, highlighting the enduring allure of Polish numismatic treasures on the international stage.