Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1988. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $640. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

YUGOSLAVIA, Kingdom. Alexander I and Maria. 1921-1934. Countermarked AV 4 Dukata (13.97 g, 12h). Dated 1932. Countermarked in Belgrade, 1933. Jugate busts of Alexander and Maria left; c/m: small grain ear with I and 1 below, at end of legend / Crowned double-headed eagle. Coin KM 14.1; Friedberg 4; for c/m: see A. Brzic, "Yugoslav Countermarks on Austro-Hungarian Gold Coins," AJN 13 pp. 109-131. UNC, typical hairlines. ($300)

From the John F. Sullivan Collection.

In the early 20th century, Balkan countries used the Austrian 4 ducat coins, and similar pieces struck in Bulgaria, Russia, and Yugoslavia, as bullion reserves. These coins are usually found with various small countermarks, applied in the new state of Yugoslavia: sword, crown, grain ear and eagle. Traditionally ascribed to the different states that made up the Yugoslav federal union, the countermarks are now regarded as marking different sequences of issue, with the latest probably being the grain ear mark of 1933. The "I" reflects the quality of the gold, and the "1" indicates it was validated at Belgrade.