4 Ducats | Gold Coin
The 4 Ducats gold coin is a commemorative coin, just like the 1 Ducat gold coin. These Austrian coins, all commemorate Emperor Franz Joseph I who died in 1916. That is why all the 4 Ducats gold coins issued after 1915 are restrikes of the original Ducats. That is the reason for which on all these Austrian gold coins it appears the year 1915, it does not matter in which year they were minted by the Austrian Mint.
It is assumed that in 1612 Austria began minting Ducats and these regular issues lasted until 1914. After that we are talking only about restrikes and it is estimated that between 1920 and 1936 there were minted 496,501 4 Ducats gold coins.
Before being reduced to the grade of uncirculated gold coins and to the status of commemorative gold coins, the 4 Ducats were gold coins and at the same time units of the account used in the majority of European countries like Russia, Austria, Swede, and others, having a face value of 9s 4d (nine shillings and fourpence).
The 4 Ducats gold coins are manufactured from the gold of 98.60% fineness, the equivalent of 23 ¾ carats, very good quality for a gold coin that used to be issued for circulation. These Austrian gold coins are only 0.7 mms thick, which is little compared with modern coins. This is due to the fact that they inherit the aspect of medieval gold coins. Their gold content weighs 13.76 grams or 0.4430 troy ounces of gold.
The obverse of the 4 Ducats gold coins features the portrait of the commemorative Emperor, the laureate head of Emperor Franz Joseph I who had one of the longest modern reigns. He was a monarch for 68 years until passing away in 1916. He is facing right and is surrounded by “FRANC IOS I D G AUSTRIA IMPERATOR".
The reverse of the 4 Ducats gold coins illustrated the double headed eagle, a symbol of the Austrian Empire. The Imperial eagle has an Austrian shield on his chest. The words “HUNGAR BOHEM GAL LOD ILL REX A A 1915" are also present on the reverse.
The first reason for investors and collectors to want trading or collecting the 4 Ducats Austrian gold coins is the fact that they are manufactured from gold with high purity. These coins had one of the highest purity if we were to compare them with other gold coins issued for circulation.
Another reason is that they have a historic charge that is subsequently transmitted to the owner of the 4 Ducats gold coins. They give a sense of stability, they have survived for more than 400 years and they transmit the idea accepted by everyone nowadays: gold will remain one of the best and most accessible means of investment.
Gold, as a precious metal in which it is advisable to invest, comes in many varieties from bullion gold coins to bullion gold bars. It so happens that sometimes these varieties are also extremely beautiful and precious like the 4 Ducats gold coins.