Genoa (1508) scudo d'oro Fr-405
The first specimen was lot 560 in Sincona sale 46 (Zürich, May 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY, Genova, Louis XII. von Frankreich, Signore di Genova, 1508-1512. Scudo doro del Sole o. J. (1508). Gutes sehr schön. Knapper Schrötling. (republic of Genoa, Louis XII of France, lord of Genoa 1508-12, undated gold scudo. Good very fine, Small flan.)"
The second specimen was lot 71008 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[2] noted, "FRANCE. Ecu d'Or, ND (1512). Genes (Genoa) Mint. Louis XII. PCGS AU-55 Gold Shield. Weight: A fairly RARE type stylizing Louis as not only the French king but also as the Genoese lord, this pleasingly struck example features a great golden-yellow hue along with a solid strike and little overall handling." Altho Friedberg calls this a écu d'or, we sided with the cataloguers in calling this a scudo d'oro. The design certainly resembles a French écu d'or, the addition of "IANUE D[OMINUS]" to the king's title on the obverse definitely marks it as intended for Italy. French kings occupied Genoa 1396-1409, 1458-61, 1499-1513 and 1515-28. It was to thwart French interference that later doges consistently sided with the king of Spain.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3.33 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 153. Duplessy 750. Fr-405.
- Duplessy, Jean, Les Monnaies Françaises Royales de Hugues Capet à Louis XVI (987-1793), Tome II, 2e édition, Paris: Maison Platt, 1999.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Auction 46, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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