Mantua (1550-87) 1/2 scudo d'oro
This specimen was lot 2039 in Sincona sale 25 (Zürich, October 2015), where it sold for 35,000 CHF (about US$43,233 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Guglielmo Gonzaga, 1550-1587 1/2 Scudo d'oro n. d. (1550-1587). MAN·M·M·F - GVLIE·DVX· Crowned, quartered arma. Rev. MARTIRIV - NON FVGI· St. Adrian standing facing in Roman officer's attire with palm frond and pillar on which S ADR. Unique. Almost extremely fine. Missing in the whole numismatic literature. Ex Auction Astarte 14, Lugano, 24. 07. 2004, Lot 597.
In the middle of the 15th century mezzi scudi d'oro began to be struck in very small quantities in Northern Italy, so that all are of highest rarity. The mezzo scudo of Mantua was minted between 1550 and 1555 together with CRISTO IN CROCE (CNI 1/2), because both are very similar. Portrayed is the martyr St. Andreas, otherwise wholly unknown in the coinage of Mantua."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 1.67 g.
Catalog reference: CNI -. Friedberg unlisted.
- 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, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Rarities, Auction 25, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
Link to:
- Mantua (1540-50) scudo d'oro Fr-530, Francesco III Gonzaga
- Mantua (1550-87) scudo d'oro Fr-532, Guglielmo Gonzaga
- Coins and currency dated 1550
- return to coins of Italy, Mantua