Papal States (1709) 1/2 scudo d'oro Fr-200
This specimen was lot 30797 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $3,290. The catalog description[1] noted, "Papal States. Clemente XI 1/2 gold Scudo d'oro Year 9 (1709), Rome mint, MS64 NGC. A surprisingly rare type; it would seem that only one other example has sold publicly in the past decade, with the present example the better of the two. That coin (Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A., Auction 95, 15 March 2008, lot 1051) hammered at 850 euros in 2008; this coin is sure to surpass that." This denomination was the smallest gold coin issued by the pope during the seventeenth century. Called a mezzo scudo d'oro, it matches the gold half ducats in size and weight.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.75 g, 0.986 fine gold, .055 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-200, Berman-2368, KM 717.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [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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