Milan 1578 doppia Fr-716
This specimen was lot 568 in Sincona sale 46 (Zürich, May 2018), where it sold for 1,000 CHF (about US$1,200 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY, Milan, Filippo II. 1556-1598. Doppia 1578. Gutes sehr schön. (duchy of Milan, Philip II, 1556-98, doppia of 1578. Good very fine.)"
Friedberg records this type as being struck 1578-98 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. A doppia equaled two scudi d'oro, originally two ducats but later much less.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 6.50 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 301/1, Fr-716.
- 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, Auction 46, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2018.
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