Genoa (1290-1300) 1/4 genovino Fr-352
This specimen was lot 1125 in Künker Auction 425 (Osnabrück, July 2025), where it sold for €400 (about US$567 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN · ITALIEN, GENUA Republik, 1139-1339. Quartarola o. J. Kastell//Kreuz. GOLD. R Kl. Randfehler, vorzüglich. (Italy, republic of Genoa, 1139-1339, undated quarter genovino. Obverse: castle; reverse: cross. Rare, minor edge defect, extremely fine.)"
Numista describes several varieties of this tiny coin, which appeared about the same time as the first florin from Florence and first ducat from Venice. This variety, with trefoils punctuating the obverse legend, is attributed to 1290-1300.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 0.88 g, 0.986 fine gold, 12 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Biaggi 840 (R); Fr-352; Lunardi 8 (R1).
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 425: Gold coins from the Medieval and Modern Times, from the Mohr family collection, e.g. | Silver coins, e.g. highlights of medallic art | German coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2025.
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