Antignate (1494-1509) 2 ducat Fr-59

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Goldberg sale 85, lot 3371
photo courtesy Goldberg Coins and Collectibles
Sincona sale 94, lot 1975

The first specimen was lot 3371 in Goldberg sale 85 (Los Angeles, June 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,

"Italian States: Antignate. 2 Ducats, ND. Lords of, Giovanni Bentivoglio II, 1494-1509. Bust with cap right. Legend: : IOANNES. BENTIVO LVS. II. BONONIENSIS. Reverse: Eagle above crowned crest. Legend: MAXIMILIANI - IMPERA. MVNV. Majestic portrait, nice original surfaces, and great detail. Very rare double ducat of a classic renaissance design. NGC graded AU-50. The influence of the Bentivoglio family over Bologna started from 1443, when Annibale I Bentivoglio, Giovanni's father, took the absolute control of the city. When Annibale was murdered in 1445, his pretended cousin, Sante I, succeeded him. Giovanni was finally able to take the city after the death of Sante in 1463.

Bearing a beautiful renaissance portrait and a handsome shield, this larger format issue of the city is always highly sought after. This is the only example we have ever handled, with very few other examples known."

The second specimen was lot 1975 in Sincona sale 94 (Zürich, October 2024), where it sold for 4,000 CHF (about US$5,544 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,

"ITALIEN Bologna, Giovanni II. Bentivoglio, 1494-1509. 2 Ducati o. J. (1494-1509), Bologna. Mit dem Titel von Maximilian I. IOANNES.BENTIV - OLVS.II.BONONIENSIS Gepanzerte Büste mit Mütze nach rechts. Rv. MAXIMILIANI - IMPERA.MVNVS Behelmter quadrierter Schild mit dem Adler als Helmzier. Selten. Sehr schön. Gewellt und kleiner Schrötlingsfehler. (Italy, city of Bologna, John II Bentivoglio, 1494-1509, undated double ducat, Bologna mint, struck in the name of Maximilian I. Obverse: Armored bust with cap to the right; reverse: Helmeted squared shield with an eagle as crest. Rare, Very Fine, Wavy flan and flan flaw.)"

Antignate (today spelled Antegnate) is now a village of utmost insignificance in the Bergamo district of Lombardy. In the late fifteenth century, it was on the border between the duchy of Milan and the republic of Venice and the Bentivogli managed to eke out a precarious independence between the two. The town eventually fell to the Venetians and the dynasty went extinct.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold, the first specimen 6.95 grams, the second specimen is 6.86 g.

Catalog reference: MIR 39, Fr-59; CNI-IV,7.

Source:

  • Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
  • [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Aleeza Brown, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 85: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2015.
  • [2]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 94: World and Swiss Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

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