Lucca 1806 5 franchi Dav-203
This specimen was lot 21369 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Las Vegas, August 2020), where it sold for $870. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Lucca & Piombino. 5 Franchi, 1806. Florence Mint. Elisa Bonaparte with Felice Baciocchi. PCGS AU-58 Gold Shield. SCARCELY encountered in better grades such as the present piece, this example offers a charming tone throughout with hints of cobalt and amber, while some shimmering luster still remains in the protected areas. From the Jasmine Collection." This five franchi was struck in the principality of Lucca while it was ruled by Elisa Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon. The type was struck 1805-08, whereupon the tiny state was annexed to Napoleon's empire. After his fall, the principality was given to a relative of the king of Naples, then attached to Tuscany in 1847. It is now part of Italy.
Recorded mintage: 81,610.
Specification: 24.84 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-24.3; Dav-203.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The August 2020 ANA Auction: World Coins, featuring the Duke of Lansing Collection, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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