Papal States (1455-58) ducat Fr-7
This specimen was lot 30169 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $7,050. The catalog description[1] noted, "High-Grade Early Papal Coin Papal States. Calixtus III (1455-58) gold Ducat ND, Rome mint, MS62 NGC. :+: CALISTVS : | : PP : TERTIVS :, Papal arms in quadrilobe / MODICE : FIDEI : QVARE : DVBITATIS, St. Peter in boat with cross. A singular example of this issue. It is both exactingly struck and remarkably well-preserved. The surfaces retain substantial luster and there is but one small mark visible to the naked eye in the right obverse field. There is some die-wear evident in the reverse legends, but this is almost inconsequential in viewing the coin as a whole. Calixtus III is considered to be the second of the Renaissance popes. He may be best remembered for elevating his nephew, Rodrigo Borgia, to cardinal, a move that enabled him to be elected pope as the infamous Alexander VI."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, .110 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-7, Berman-347, Biaggi-2166.
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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