Saxony, Ducat 1616

Saxony, Johann Georg I., 1615-1656, Ducat 1616.

So called Sophienducat, Weddingducat or Christeningducat

Saxony-Albertine Line

Coinage of the 19th century

History of the ducat

Sophiendukat (also: Kinderdukat, Dreifaltigkeitsdukat, more rarely Sonnendukat) is the name of a gold coin first minted at Christmas in 1616 at the instigation of the Saxon Electress Sophie, weighing about 3.4 grammes.

The coins were dedicated to Sophie's children. They bore the intertwined monogram CS on the obverse under the electoral hat on the electoral swords. The monogram was interpreted in older numismatic literature as "Churfürstin Sophie".

More recent research as well as the Saxon Art Collections Dresden assume today that the monogram stands for the electoral couple "Christian & Sophie".

The inscription on the obverse reads "WOL DEM DER FREVD AN SEIN KINDERN ERLEBT".

On the reverse were the eye of God, the initials "IHS" (for Jesus Christ) and a dove as symbols of the Trinity.

The inscription on the reverse was "HILF DV HEILIGE DREYFALTIGKEIT 1616". Because of these coinages, the Sophiendukaten were also called Kinderdukaten or Dreifaltigkeitsdukaten.

The coin was so popular as a godfather gift that it was restrike at the Dresden mint until 1873. The restrikes can be distinguished from the original by the shortened inscription "WOL DEM DER FREVD AN SEIN KIND ERLEBT".