Guastalla 1620 tallero Dav-3913
The first specimen was lot 25163 in Heritage sale 3026 (Long Beach, October 2013), where it sold for $4,112.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Guastalla. Ferrante II Gonzaga Tallero 1620, AU58 NGC, an attractive example of this rare Tallero with aged gray patina and sharply defined details. There is a small natural edge flaw at 7 o'clock on the obverse, as struck. The counts of Guastalla (near Mantua) received the coining right from Emperor Carlo V in 1557." The second specimen was lot 26 in Aurora Numismatica Floor Auction 30 (San Marino, Italy, September 2023) where it sold for 5,000 euro (about US$6,420 including buyer's fees). The lot description noted,
"Italy, Guastalla, Ferrante II Gonzaga (1575-1630), Tallero 1620, Rara Ag di ottima qualità, SPL. (duchy of Guastalla, Ferrante Gonzaga II, 1575-1630, tallero of 1620. Rare, outstanding quality, extremely fine.)"
The county of Guastalla, raised to a duchy in 1621, was ruled by the Gonzagas 1539-1748 and thereupon merged with the duchy of Parma. Issues for this locality are sparse and rare. Another tallero of 1620 (Dav-3914) deletes the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece around the arms on the reverse.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the second specimen 28,09 g, 39 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: MIR-371/3; KM 44, Dav-3913.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals, Banknotes & Books: Auction 6, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2012.
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