GERMANY. Sachsen-Albertinische Linie. Kurfürstentum. Johann Georg I, 1615-1656. 10 Dukaten 1638 (Gold, 47 mm, 34.62 g, 12 h), on the marriage of Johann Georg II and Magdalena Sibylle of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. By P. Walter. Dresden. IOHAN:GEORG:D:G:DVX SAX•IVL•CLIV:ET MONTI Two coats of arms connected by a chain, with a female figure in between, wearing ankle shackles, iron collar and holding poppy capsules in her right hand and cypress branch in her left; above, radiant sun; all within floral wreath. Rev. ✱ EMBLEMA FESTIVITATI NUPT:SERENISSIMI•PRINCIP:AC DOMMINI DO:IOHANNIS GEORGII•SAXON / *IUL•CLIV:ET MONT:DVC:LANDG:THU:MARCH:MISN:ET LUS:ETC:SPONSI•ET MAGDALENÆ / SIBYLLÆ MARC:BRAD:BORUS:STET:PO:CAS:ETC:D:SPOS:DICATUM• Two interlocking hands emerging from clouds holding roses above diamond ring with two flaming hearts attached; all within two cornucopias. Fischer/Maué 2.163. Merseburger -, cf. 1147 (in silver). Wilmersdörffer -, cf. 674 (in silver). Exceedingly rare and impressive. Minor edge nicks, otherwise, very fine.



This lavish Baroque prestige 10 Dukaten commemorates the grand wedding of the Saxon heir to the throne, Johann Georg II (1613-1680), and Magdalena Sibylle (1612-1687), daughter of Margrave Christian of Brandenburg-Kulmbach/Bayreuth (1581-1655).

Held in Dresden in 1638, this extravagant wedding served as a dazzling distraction from the horrors of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), which had devastated vast parts of Germany including Saxony. Despite two decades of relentless conflict, the wedding festivities stretched over an entire week, from 13-23 November. The celebration featured extravagant banquets, a breathtaking three-hour fireworks display, and the distribution of commemorative coins of this type to distinguished guests.

Johann Georg II, son of the renowned Johann Georg I - under whose reign this coin was minted - would later face the challenge of rebuilding his war-ravaged electorate after the devastation of the Thirty Years’ War. He successfully restored the economy, with his efforts culminating in the transformation of Dresden into a thriving center of art and culture. However, at the time this Multiple Ducat was issued, such a future was far from certain, as only a year after the wedding, the weakened electorate faced near destruction once again when Swedish forces under General Johan Banér (1596-1641) launched a brutal invasion, pushing Saxony to the brink of collapse.