Portugal (1367-83)-L dobra pe-terra Fr-4
This specimen was lot 52485 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $66,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Magnificent Dobra of Fernando I The Handsome. PORTUGAL. Dobra Pé-Terra, ND (1367-83)-L. Lisbon Mint. Fernando I "the Handsome". PCGS MS-65. Obverse: Standing facing king holding sword, mintmark to left, within gothic design, legend around "+FERNANDVSxͯR EXxPORTL(U)GALIxͯExͯˣ"; Reverse: Ornate and stylized cross within quadrilobe, legend around "+FERNANDVSoͦDEIoͦGRAoͦREXoͦPORTVGALIoͦALGAR". Beautifully preserved and highly attractive, this type is seldom encountered in any condition, let alone in this fantastic elite state of preservation and being the finest certified of the type on the PCGS population report. The devices are sharply struck and crisp with bold complete legends on both sides complemented by intricate design features. The surfaces offer a shimmery luster that accentuates the finely engraved dies with many nuances. While close inspection reveals methodical die work that was clearly executed by a skilled hand. Pleasing to the eye, this handsome piece displays an attractive pale golden coloration on the high points and exposed areas with a faint apricot tone in the crevasses lending to its originality. Truly a magnificent numismatic treasure of the highest caliber that is certain to garner much attention from quality conscious advanced collectors.
Stylistically speaking, this type was clearly influenced by contemporary French coins of similar design and weight, but with a dramatically lower survival rate accounting for their extreme rarity today. It is believed that only about 12 examples are known for all varieties of this type, with the present piece being somewhat special by comparison. The obverse die can be linked to other examples where the stops on the reverse are either ":" or "x?". While the reverse of the present piece offers unique characteristics in the form of double annulets (o?) as stops. Ex: Rive Gauche Collection (Numisma Lisbon 12/2002) Lot # 2."
Sáez Salgado notes that this coin had a face value of 120 soldos and estimates that perhaps a dozen examples exist.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 5.2-5.5 g, 0.917 fine gold, 30 mm diameter, this specimen 5.11 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-4; Gomes-Fe.92.01/92.02; JS-Fe.1; MNP-239; Vaz-Fe.01; Salgado-FI.1; NVMARIA-Fe.01(same obverse die); BEC-Unlisted.
- 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.
- Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
- Sáez Salgado, Javier, Moedas de Ouro de Portugal, 1185-1889, Lisbon, Numisma Leiloes, 2001.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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