Livorno 1674 ongaro Fr-464
This specimen was lot 3223 in Künker sale 264 (Osnabrück, June 2015), where it sold for €2,800 (about US$3,617 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TOSCANA Cosimo III. Medici, 1670-1723. Ongaro (Dukat nach ungarischem Vorbild) 1674, Livorno. In US-Plastikholder der PCGS mit der Bewertung AU 55. GOLD. RR Sehr attraktives, fast vorzügliches Exemplar. (grand duchy of Tuscany, Cosimo III Medici, 1670-1723, Hungarian style ducat of 1674, Livorno mint. In PCGS AU-55 holder, rare, choice extremely fine.)"
Five dates are listed for this type struck 1674-78 and 1691. The SCWC and Friedberg list this under Livorno, where it was made, rather than Tuscany, where it was used. Cosimo was lord of both places. The 2.35 g weight reported in the SCWC disqualifies it as a ducat; however, a specimen dated 1676 has a weight of 3.43 g. Altho the ducat originated in Florence as the fiorino d'oro, this coin is named after the Hungarian ducat which it closely resembles.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-464; Montagano 72 (R3), KM 18.
- [1]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 264, Gold coins | Russian Coins and Medals | German Coins after 1871, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2015.
- 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.
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