Milan 1796-M sovrano Fr-741a
This specimen was lot 42553 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $4,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Milan. Sovrano, 1796-M. Milan Mint. Francesco II (Franz II of the Holy Roman Empire). NGC MS-64. The single finest example of the type in the NGC census, this near-Gem abounds with tremendous dazzling luster and a golden-orange flair across both sides." This type is recorded for the Duchy of Milan 1792-1800. Similar coins with other mintmarks (Brussels, Vienna, etc.) are listed under the Austrian Netherlands. The duchy of Milan was Spanish until 1714, when it passed to the Austrians, who lost it to Revolutionary France in 1797. After the fall of Napoleon in 1815, it returned to Hapsburg rule until the unification of Italy in 1859-60.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10.62-11.10 g, 0.919 fine gold, 29 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-741a; KM-241.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- 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.
- Veselý, Roman, Mince a medaile, 19. století, František II ab Karel I, Prague: Aurea Numismatika, 2020.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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