Austrian ducat (1 ducat)
Austria · gold · 1872-1915 (refrappes 1915)
Overview
The Austrian ducat is the heir of a European gold coin struck since the late Middle Ages; in its modern form it carries the effigy of Emperor Franz Joseph I, laureate head, and on the reverse the double-headed eagle of the Habsburgs. Struck from 1872 to 1915, it is still produced by the Austrian Mint as official restrikes dated 1915. Its particularity is a very high fineness, 986 ‰, for a thin and light coin: 3.4909 g of which 3.442 g of fine gold, with a diameter of 19.75 mm. This thinness makes it sensitive to bending and scratches; a bent or marked piece remains gold of the same fineness, but deserves careful weighing. A 4 ducats exists, of 13.9636 g and 39.5 mm, broad and just as thin. At Gold & Silver Company in Dottignies, every ducat is weighed and appraised in front of the person; the assay in the agency is what counts.
The 4 ducats weighs 13.9636 g (Ø 39.5 mm).
Characteristics
| Country | Austria |
|---|---|
| Metal | gold |
| Gross weight | 3.4909 g |
| Fineness | 986 ‰ |
| Fine metal | 3.442 g |
| Diameter | 19.75 mm |
| Years of issue | 1872-1915 (refrappes 1915) |
How to check it
Indicative check: weigh the coin to the centigram and measure its diameter with callipers; a deviation of more than 0.1 g or 0.2 mm from the reference values warrants an examination in the agency. The assay in the agency is what counts.
At Gold & Silver Company
Every coin is weighed and appraised in front of the person, at the agency in Dottignies (Mouscron); the price is set at the rate of the moment of the transaction and is never published in advance.
Welcome policy: for gold, Gold & Silver Company receives by appointment from one kilogram; below that, no appointment is needed during opening hours; for silver, no appointment is needed whatever the quantity.
Related terms
Further reading
Sources
Characteristics checked against the reference numismatic catalogues and the issuers' official specifications (September 2026). The appraisal in the agency is what counts.