Milan (1554-98) scudo d'oro Fr-718
This specimen was lot 20378 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (Newport Beach, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $2,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Milan. Scudo d'Oro, ND (1556-98). Philip II of Spain. PCGS AU-53 Gold Shield. Obverse: Radiate head left; Reverse: Crowned and garnished coat-of-arms. Entirely wholesome and alluring, this hammered issue harkens back to Roman coinage from antiquity with its rather simplified, radiate-crowned portraiture. Only a light degree of handling is present, and it overall retains some pleasing brilliance." Friedberg records this type as being struck for the duke of Milan, who was also Philip II of Spain. The Spanish issues for Milan ended with the death of Charles II in 1700, when the duchy passed to Austria, which held it until the coming of Napoleon.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.25 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3.29 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-718; MIR-305.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2021 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Oro del Nuevo Mundo and Matt Orsini Collections, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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