Lucca (1493-95) ducat Fr-486
This specimen was lot 6125 in Künker sale 336 (Osnabrück, Germany, March 2020), where it sold for €1,500 (about US$1,963 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN, LUCCA, Republik, 1369-1799. Ducato o. J. (um 1493-1495). Mit dem Familienwappen des Münzmeisters Balbani auf der Vorderseite. In US-Plastikholder der NGC mit der Bewertung AU 58. GOLD. R Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (republic of Lucca, undated ducat, with the family arms of mintmaster Balbani on the obverse. NGC AU-58, scarce, very fine to extremely fine.)"
This type, listed in Friedberg for the 15th century, shows the face of Christ (Vultus = "face" in Latin) on the obverse and St. Martin on the reverse, dividing his cloak with the beggar.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.50 g, 0.986 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Bellesia 65/A; Fr-486.
- 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 Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Catalog 336: Gold coins from all over the World|German Coins after 1871. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2020.
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