Reggio 1553 bianco
This specimen was lot 1056 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $6,737.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY, Reggio (Duchy). Ercole II d'Este. 1534-1559. AR Bianco Dated 1553. Draped bust left, wearing ruff / Coat-of-arms. Rich cabinet toning, some light marks. Good VF. An exceptional example of this very rare issue. From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, October 2019." A bianco was half a lira or ten soldi. The town of Reggio is in the northern part of the duchy of Modena; we don't know why the duke issued a coin just for it.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29 mm diameter, 4.80 g, 9 h axis.
Catalog reference: MIR 1302; Morosini 29 (this coin cited and illustrated).
- [1]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.
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