Savoy 1561-V 4 soldi
This specimen was lot 42460 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Savoy. Bianco, 1561. Vercelli Mint. Emanuele Filiberto "the Ironheaded". PCGS AU-55. Presenting a great portrait of the duke that was known as the "ironheaded," this barely circulated specimen undoubtedly stands as one of the elite representatives of the emission. From the Richard Margolis Collection." Wikipedia comments,
"Emmanuel Philibert (Italian: Emanuele Filiberto; Piedmontese: Emanuel Filibert; 8 July 1528 – 30 August 1580), known as Testa di ferro (Piedmontese: Testa 'd fer; "Ironhead", because of his military career), was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580. He is remembered for the recovery of the Savoyard state (invaded and occupied by France when he was a child) following the Battle of St. Quentin (1557), and for moving its capital to Turin."
None of the silver or gold coins of Savoy of the sixteenth century can be called common. Savoy was not one of the prosperous regions of Italy like Milan or Tuscany. Twenty soldi made a lira.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: Biaggi-427; MIR-508H.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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