File:Papal States c1455 ducat obv H3029-30169.jpg

This specimen was lot 30169 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $7,050. The catalog description^[1] noted, "High-Grade Early Papal Coin Papal States. Calixtus III (1455-58) gold Ducat ND, Rome mint, Fr-7, Berman-347, Biaggi-2166, MS62 NGC. :+: CALISTVS : | : PP : TERTIVS :, Papal arms in quadrilobe / MODICE : FIDEI : QVARE : DVBITATIS, St. Peter in boat with cross. A singular example of this issue. It is both exactingly struck and remarkably well-preserved. The surfaces retain substantial luster and there is but one small mark visible to the naked eye in the right obverse field. There is some die-wear evident in the reverse legends, but this is almost inconsequential in viewing the coin as a whole. Calixtus III is considered to be the second of the Renaissance popes. He may be best remembered for elevating his nephew, Rodrigo Borgia, to cardinal, a move that enabled him to be elected pope as the infamous Alexander VI."