Desana (1630-41) scudo d'oro Fr-246
The first specimen was lot 21233 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it sold for $2,160. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Desana. Ducato (Fiorino) d'Oro, ND. Count Antonio Maria Tizzone (1598-1641). NGC VF-35. Fr-247; KM-49; Varesi-545. Arms, crest and mantlings in circle, Latin legend: 'Blessed be the Name of the Lord'; Reverse: Double-headed Imperial eagle with orb on breast, 'MONETA. NOVA. AVREA'. Struck in imitation of the goldguldens of Deventer with the quirky distinction of having no issuing county or ruler mentioned in the design. VERY RARE as a type, and the better of two traced in archived auction records, this example last appeared over a decade ago in a Stack's January 2008 auction where it hammered at $3,500. Ex: Kunker auction, September 2004, Lot #4094 where it brought 5,000 Euros." The second specimen was lot 23326 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2023), where it sold for $1,680. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY. Desana. Fiorino d'Oro (Ducat), ND (1598-1641). Antonio Maria Tizzone. NGC VF-35. Obverse: Imperial double eagle, with crown above and orb on breast; Reverse: Coat-of-arms surmounted by crowned and crested helmet. Imitating the goldgulden of Deventer, this VERY RARE type does exhibit some minor striking weakness and handling, but nevertheless remains wholesome and without issue. From the Augustana Collection. Ex: Stack's (1/2008) Lot 2972 @ $3,500. Ex: Kuenker 96 (9/2004) Lot # 4094 @ €5,000." The auction listings misidentified both the Friedberg reference and the SCWC reference. This is not a ducat but a goldgulden, which was lighter and lower in fineness. The SCWC has reorganized its listings for this tiny county in the northeast of Piedmont and KM 49 is now a billon thirty kreuzer. Today Desana is an insignificant village in the Piedmont region of Italy, population 1,085 as of 2004. It was a semi-independent enclave in the duchy of Savoy, ruled by the Tizzoni 1411-1693. A mint was opened in 1510 to strike imitations of coins of neighboring states. Antonio Maria II was count 1598-1641.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.07 g, gold, the second specimen 3.26 g.
Catalog reference: Varesi-545, KM-68, Fr-246.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2018 Philadelphia ANA Auction: World Coins and Selections from the El Dorado Collection of Colombian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The January 2023 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Taraszka Collection and the Mark and Dottie Salton Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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