Sicily 1752-PN oncia Fr-887
This specimen was lot 1776 in Jean Elsen sale 143 (Brussels, December 2019), where it sold for €250 (about US$326 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, SICILE, Charles III de Bourbon (1734-1759), AV oncia, 1752P-N, Palerme. D/ T. à d. R/ Phénix renaissant dans un brasier, sous le soleil rayonnant. Petits défauts de flan. Très Beau. (Italy, kingdom of Sicily, Charles III of Bourbon, 1734-59, gold oncia of 1752, Palermo mint. Obverse: head right; reverse: the phoenix rises out of the fire, sun's rays above. Minor planchet defects, Very Fine.)"
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 coin type was struck 1752-58 and is the last of the denomination.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.40 g, 0.906 fine gold, .128 troy oz AGW, this specimen 4,40 g.
Catalog reference: KM C14b, Spahr 81; Fr-887.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Fabrizi, Davide, Monete Italiane Regionale: Napoli, Pavia: Edizioni Numismatica Varesi, 2010.
- 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.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, Vente Publique 143, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2019.
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