Naples and Sicily 1769-BP CCR 6 ducati Fr-849
This specimen was lot 33749 in Heritage sale 3114 (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $4,080. The lot description[1] noted, "Italy: Naples & Sicily. Ferdinand IV gold 6 Ducati 1769 BP/C-RC MS65+ NGC. An outstanding offering, certainly worthy of its plus designation. With a combination of velveteen, cartwheeling fields and semi-frosty motifs, this intricate piece rises above not only in grade but in production quality, since it lacks the usual distracting adjustment marks. The sole finest recorded by NGC and one for discerning collectors." Charles II, the last Hapsburg king of Spain, was also king of Naples and Sicily. After his death the area passed out of the hands of the Spanish crown, only to be reconquered by them in the 1730's. Ferdinand IV was the third son of Charles III, king of Spain 1759-88 and the younger brother of Charles IV. This denomination was introduced in 1750. In 1769, the date was moved from below the shield to left of the crown and struck in that form until 1781. Despite the six ducati denomination, it is not a true six ducat coin, having only enough gold for about two and a half ducats.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 8.79 g, 0.906 fine gold, .256 troy oz AGW, 27 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Fr-849, KM 176.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Fabrizi, Davide, Monete Italiane Regionale: Napoli, Pavia: Edizioni Numismatica Varesi, 2010.
- 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.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2024 January 16 - 18 NYINC World Coins Signature Auction #3114, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2023.
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