Gold Ducats of the Elected Kings – from Charles Robert to John Zápolya
The floor auction will feature as many as 47 Hungarian gold ducats from the reigns of Charles Robert, Louis I the Great, Sigismund of Luxembourg, Matthias Corvinus, Vladislaus II Jagiellon, Louis II, and John Zápolya.
The most represented ruler is Matthias Corvinus, with 16 ducats originating from three different mints. Another nine Corvinus ducats are included in the eLive auction.
Special attention should also be paid to four exceptional ducats of John Zápolya, the monarch who historically stands at the crossroads between the era of the elected kings and the rule of the Habsburgs.
Selected items:
43. RR! Ducat (1325–1342). Kremnitz or Buda. Charles Robert. Very rare (RR!), good VF | good VF – starting price 2,600 €
87. RR! Ducat 1527. John Zápolya. Very rare (RR!), about UNC | good EF – starting price 4,000 €
Silver Coins and Unique Pieces in the eLive Auction
In the eLive auction, you will also find a rich selection of silver groschen, denars, and obols from the same period. Among the most remarkable pieces are two unique coins of John Hunyadi – a denar and an obol, which appear on the market extremely rarely.
Selected item:
1315. Obol. Košice. Jan Hunyadi. Unique!, good EF | good EF – starting price 300 €
Why Collect Coins of the Elected Kings?
The period of the elected kings (after 1301, following the end of the Árpád dynasty) represents a key era in Hungarian history. Monarchs such as Charles Robert of Anjou laid the foundations of new political and economic structures. It was under his rule that the monetary reform introduced the gold florin – the Hungarian ducat modelled after the Florentine coin. During this time, the Kremnitz Mint was established, which played a crucial role in minting gold coins for the entire Kingdom of Hungary.
Collecting these coins is a challenge, as most of them do not bear a date of issue. A collector must identify each piece by the ruler, mint, mintmaster’s marks, and iconographic features. However, this demanding approach brings a deeper understanding of historical context and greater collector’s value.
At the same time, these coins are often more affordable than later Habsburg issues, making them an attractive entry point for new collectors.
Begin Your Journey Through Hungarian History
If you have not yet explored medieval Hungarian coinage, now is the perfect time to start. More than two centuries of history, shaped in gold and silver, offer an immensely rich and diverse collecting world.
With Auction #37, you are entering an era where every ducat tells a story of kings, mints, and historical challenges – and may become the foundation of your future collection.
Floor auction: October 24, 2025 – Hotel Mandarin Oriental, Prague
eLive auction: October 27–30, 2025, every evening from 6:00 p.m.
Online catalogue and bidding: machochlapovic.auex.de/en-en/auctions/current
