Savoy 1564 scudo d'oro Fr-1039b
This specimen was lot 2671 in Sincona sale 87 (Zürich, October 2023), where it sold for 1,800 CHF (about US$2,424 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Savoyen, Emanuele Filiberto, 1553-1580. Scudo d'oro del sole 1564, Nizza. VI Tipo. Selten. Vorzüglich. Leichter Doppelschlag. (Italy, duchy of Savoy, Emanuel Philibert, 1553-80, gold scudo of the sun of 1564, Nice mint, sixth type. Rare, Extremely fine, slightly double struck.)"
This is from a type struck intermittently 1561-80. Emanuele Filiberto was merely duke of Savoy; his descendants would not claim the title of king of Sardinia until 1720. A similar scudo d'oro (Fr-1041) was struck 1570-76 with a Maltese cross instead of the voided cross shown here. While not common, these are the only Savoyard gold coins not extremely rare. Savoy was not one of the prosperous regions of Italy like Milan or Tuscany.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.25 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3.31 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 497b, Fr-1039b.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 87, World Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
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