Piacenza (1622-46) 6 doppie Fr-910
This specimen was lot 21135 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Outstanding Large Format 17th Century Gold Issue. One of Three Examples Recorded. ITALY. Parma & Piacenza. 6 Doppie, ND (1622-46). Odardo Farnese. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, EF Details Gold Shield. Obverse: ODOARDVS FAR PAR PLA DVX, bareheaded, draped, and armored bust right, wearing elaborate collar; Reverse: PENDENT MILLE CLYPI, the Madonna seated facing, head lowered left, holding Holy Infant; above, two cherubim hover, placing crown upon her head. Struck on a rather majestic, yet somewhat crude, flan, this impressive type--a RARE piece and one of just three known--offers a pleasing golden-orange appearance that is re-toning from a prior cleaning. Despite this designation, the present specimen presents a unique opportunity to acquire an immense 17th century gold issue that is at the pinnacle of rarity. Destined to find its way to the finest of Italian or early modern gold cabinets. Odardo, the fifth Duke of Parma, Piacenza, and Castro, was the second son of Ranuccio I and his wife, Margherita Aldobrandini. In 1628, he married Margherita de' Medici, and his reign produced some of the most majestic hammered gold coins of the time. Long a point of contention between the papacy and other Northern Italian rulers, Parma passed to the House of Bourbon on the death of Francesco I Farnese in 1727, but the family's rule is well remembered through its coinage."
This example was offered again as lot 41072 in Stack's Bowers 2021 ANA sale, where it sold for $96,000. The SCWC lists a six doppie (KM 15) for 1626 only, along with 2 doppie and 8 doppie. The duchy of Piacenza was united with the duchy of Parma in the eighteenth century.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 39.51 g, gold, 43 mm diameter, this specimen 45 mm diameter, 39.06 g.
Catalog reference: cf.KM-15; Fr-910; cf. CNI-pl. XXIII, 12-3 (for similar type).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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