Very rare ducat of the Breslau bishop Joseph von Hohenlohe from the extremely desirable and sought-after mint in Neisse.
Attractive coin with plenty of mint luster.
Choice uncriculated. Graded MS64 by NGC.
Superb specimen. Highest grade in NGC population report.
Obverse: bust of the bishop facing right
IOSEPH DG PRIN AB HOHENLOHE WALD BART
Reverse: multifield coat of arms decorated with a bishop's staff, prince's hat and bishop's cap, with lions with a flag on both sides
EPISCOP WRATISL PRINC NISS ET DUX GROTTKOW
Gold, diameter 20 mm, weight 3.43 g
During the reign of Bishop Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg (1683–1732), the production of official coins resumed, but in 1701 the minting process was concentrated, prohibiting all feudal lords from minting smaller monetary units. Only the right to mint representative coins was left, and the bishop took advantage of it. As a result of the Silesian Wars and the annexation of most of Silesia by Prussia, episcopal power was significantly limited. After secularization in 1810, the bishops lost all their landed estates and all secular prerogatives, including the right to mint coins in the lost area of the Duchy of Prussia. Bishop Joseph von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein (1795–1817) was the last who, as Prince of Neisse, issued his own coins. In the following centuries, issues of bishop's coins were limited only to medallion issues.
