Siena (1376-91) 5-1/2 soldi
This specimen was lot 34591 in Heritage sale 3067 (Long Beach, September 2018), where it sold for $528. The catalog description[1] noted, "Italy: Siena. Republic Grosso of 5-1/2 Soldi ND (1376-91) AU55 NGC, Mintmaster mark 32 (segno 32, following CNI tav. XXVII). + SЄnA VЄTVS CIVITAS VIRGnЗ, large letter S within octofoil, star in each crux / (segno 32) • ALFA • Ζ • Θ • PRInCIPIVЗ • Ζ • FInIS, large cross-fleury within octofoil, star in each crux, segno at top. An intriguing and highly appealing hammered issue with dove gray surfaces that betray a tinge of golden tone. The flan appears slightly irregular (a common occurrence for hammered coins), or perhaps lightly clipped, render[ing] a proper transcription of the legends with pellet positions quite difficult. There also appears to be little consensus over the dating of this issue, for while CNI places it under the coins 'struck according to the ordinance of 21 April 1376 until 1391', MIR places it under the issues of between 1404-23, though in either case, the precise date assigned by the slab seems rather ungrounded. Nevertheless, a rather scarce and desirable piece." The Republic of Siena, in Tuscany south of the better known city of Florence, survived as an independent city state until her conquest by the grand duke of Tuscany in the mid-1500's, at which time the coinage ended. The grosso replaced the dinero in Italian coinage in the late Middle Ages after rulers had debased the dinero into uselessness. It was copied in France (gros tournois), England (groat) and Germany (groschen).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 2.43 g.
Catalog reference: cf. CNI-XIb.157-159, MIR-514var (different segno).
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2018 September 6-11 Long Beach Expo World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction #3067, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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