1 Ducat - Frederick William Guinea-Ducat

Features

Issuer	State of Brandenburg-Prussia (German States)
Margrave	Frederick William (Friedrich Wilhelm) (1640-1688)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	1682-1686
Value	1 Ducat
Currency	Thaler (1618-1701)
Composition	Gold
Weight	3.43 g
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 199097
References	v.Schr. Brandenburg# 135, 136, etc. Friedrich Freiherr von Schrötter; 1913. Die Münzen Friedrich Wilhelms des Grossen Kurfürsten und Friedrichs III. von Brandenburg = The Coinage of Frederick William the Great Elector and Frederick III of Brandenburg. Paul Parey, Berlin, Germany. , KM# 504 Standard Catalog of World Coins (86 volumes). , Fr# 2230 Coin & Currency Institute (publisher). Gold Coins of the World. Coin & Currency Institute (8 volumes).

Obverse

Bare-headed draped bust of Friedrich Wilhelm facing right.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
FRID : WILH : D · G · M · BR · S · R · I · A · EL ·
· L C S ·

Translation:
Fridericus Wilhelmus Dei Gratia Marchio Brandenburgicus; Sancti Romani Imperii Archi Camerarius et Elector

Friedrich Wilhelm, by the grace of God, Marquis of Brandenburg, Arch-chamberlain and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire.

Reverse

Full-rigged sailing ship on rough water to right. Two gusts of wind coming from clouds on the top left.

Script: Latin

Lettering: DEO DVCE · 1683

Mint

Berlin, Germany (1280-date)

Mark

LCS	Lorenz Christoph Schneider, Mint Master, Berlin (1682-1701)

Comments

Guinea ducats (ship ducats) were minted in Berlin from African gold, between 1683-1696, after Friedrich Wilhelm founded the Großfriedrichsburg colony on the coast of Guinea in 1682. The minting costs were very high, but showcased a strong symbol of early colonization by a German prince. Krause mentions these coins were intended for trade with Guinea.

The coin in the main image (3.47g, Extremely Fine):
◦ Auctioned by Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 331, 30 January 2020, Lot 9. Sold for 20,000 EUR.

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Date		References
Undetermined
1682	LCS	v.Schr. Brandenburg# 135 Friedrich Freiherr von Schrötter; 1913. Die Münzen Friedrich Wilhelms des Grossen Kurfürsten und Friedrichs III. von Brandenburg = The Coinage of Frederick William the Great Elector and Frederick III of Brandenburg. Paul Parey, Berlin, Germany.
1683	LCS	v.Schr. Brandenburg# 136 Friedrich Freiherr von Schrötter; 1913. Die Münzen Friedrich Wilhelms des Grossen Kurfürsten und Friedrichs III. von Brandenburg = The Coinage of Frederick William the Great Elector and Frederick III of Brandenburg. Paul Parey, Berlin, Germany.
1685	LCS	v.Schr. Brandenburg# 140 Friedrich Freiherr von Schrötter; 1913. Die Münzen Friedrich Wilhelms des Grossen Kurfürsten und Friedrichs III. von Brandenburg = The Coinage of Frederick William the Great Elector and Frederick III of Brandenburg. Paul Parey, Berlin, Germany.
1686	LCS	v.Schr. Brandenburg# 141 Friedrich Freiherr von Schrötter; 1913. Die Münzen Friedrich Wilhelms des Grossen Kurfürsten und Friedrichs III. von Brandenburg = The Coinage of Frederick William the Great Elector and Frederick III of Brandenburg. Paul Parey, Berlin, Germany.

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Past sales

Pictures	Sale	Date	Version	Grade	Sold price
	Künker Auction 437 Lot 36	28 Jan 2026	1686 LCS – v.Schr. Brandenburg# 141		USD 50 772.96 (EUR 44 000.00) (+ buyer's premium)
© Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Osnabrück and Lübke & Wiedemann KG, Leonberg