Dozens of Transylvanian Coins Certified by NGC Offered Just in Time for Halloween

More than 80 rare coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) that are from a collection focused on Transylvania are being offered in a Maison Gadoury auction on October 25, 2024.

Though ruled by Hungarian princes, Transylvania was an Ottoman vassal state for much of the 16th and 17th centuries before the Habsburgs eventually asserted control. In the late 19th century, Bram Stoker's horror novel "Dracula" popularized the association of vampires with Transylvania. In addition to Romanian folklore and Vlad the Impaler, another possible inspiration for "Dracula" was Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a noblewoman from a powerful Transylvanian family who was believed to have tortured and murdered many girls.

Bathory's alleged horrific crimes coincided with a time of rapid succession of Transylvanian princes, including the reign of Sigismund Rakoczi. He was elected Prince of Transylvania in 1607 when he was already in ill health and held power for less than two years. This Hungary 1607 Transylvania 10 Ducat graded NGC AU 55 (lot 688), which shows Rakoczi during his brief hold on power. It has a starting price of €75,000 (about $82,000) in the auction.

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Gabriel Bethlen served as Prince of Transylvania from 1613 to 1629, and he leveraged his military power to temporarily take part of Habsburg-controlled Royal Hungary (as well as the title King of Hungary) in 1620. In 1621, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II was able to focus his attention on countering Bethlen's ambitions, taking back land and prompting a peace treaty in which Bethlen gave up the title of king. This Hungary (1620-21) Transylvania Gold Medal graded NGC AU 58 (lot 720) that dates from Bethlen's brief time as king has a starting price of €75,000 (about $82,000).

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On October 26, a day after this sale, Maison Gadoury is hosting Auction XVII, and highlights include an Italy 1641 Savoy 10 Scudo d'Oro graded NGC AU 58 and pedigreed to the Paramount Collection, with a starting price of €100,000. (To learn more about this sale, click here.)

Other NGC-certified highlights from the collection of Transylvanian coins in the October 25 auction include:

• a Hungary (1620-21) Transylvania Gold Medal graded NGC AU Details (lot 719), with a starting price of €50,000 (about $55,000)
• a Hungary 1629 Transylvania 2 Talers graded NGC XF 40 (lot 715), with a starting price of €30,000 (about $33,000)
• a Hungary 1645NB Transylvania Taler graded NGC VF Details (lot 722), with a starting price of €5,000 (about $5,500)
• a Hungary 1694CV Transylvania Ducat graded NGC MS 64 (lot 734), with a starting price of €5,000 (about $5,500)
• a Hungary 1628 Transylvania 2 Gulden Klippe graded NGC XF 45 (lot 716), with a starting price of €4,000 (about $4,400)
• a Hungary 1631 Transylvania Ducat graded NGC MS 62 (lot 724), with a starting price of €4,000 (about $4,400)
• a Hungary 1743 Transylvania Taler graded NGC AU Details (lot 743), with a starting price of €4,000 (about $4,400)

Starting prices are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.