Sicily 1750-VB FN oncia Fr-887
This specimen was lot 1199 in Stacks-Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $2,115. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Sicily. Oncia, 1750-VB/FN. Carlo di Borbone (Carlo III) (1734-59). NGC MS-65. Sharply struck. Brilliant surfaces and great eye appeal." Sicily, having been Spanish for several centuries, fell to Sardinian rule in 1714 as part of the partition which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. King Philip V's second wife was Italian and was anxious to carve out territories for her son Carlos, who was not expected to inherit the throne of Spain. Accordingly, a Spanish army was sent to Italy and after various adventures, managed to conquer Sicily in 1720 and Naples in 1734. Carlos ruled the area as "Carlo di Borbone" until he inherited the throne of Spain on the death of his half brother Fernando in 1759. This design was struck 1735-52 and is common for the type.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.40 g, 0.906 fine gold, .128 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-887; C-14a; Mont-102; Gig-24.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, The January 2015 NYINC Auction: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Featuring the John W. Adams and Ray Czabor Collections, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2014.
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