122, Lot: 419. Estimate $100. Sold for $146. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

WALLACHIA. Mircea cel Batran. 1386-1418. AR Ducat (15mm, 0.32 g). Struck circa 1386-1396. + IVVAn SVISnmI, crest of the Bassaraba family; W within right half / +IVVAn SmIV:, the Wallachian crest: eagle standing left, head right, on helmet. MBR 150. VF, toned, light porosity, typical flat spots.

Mircea was the grandfather of Vlad II Tzepesh (the Impaler), who is commonly known today as Dracula. During his reign Wallachia reached the zenith of its power, militarily, politically, and in geographic size. In 1395, Mircea lead a Christian army in a major campaign against the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, culminating in the Battle of Rovine, which proved inconclusive, but ended the campaign. He also led forces at the battle of Nicopolis on 25 September 1396, a crushing defeat for the Christians in what was the last great western crusade against the Ottomans. The Wallachians continued their resistance until 1417, when Mircea was forced to recognize the sultan's authority and pay tribute. This was a humiliating end for Mircea, who died the following year.