Tuscany 1677 lira
This specimen was lot 2648 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 225 CHF (about US$270 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY | Florence, Cosimo III. de Medici 1670-1723. Lira 1677, Napoli. Rare, Very fine, Cleaned." This obscure type is not listed in the SCWC. The Florentine republic, a leader of the Renaissance, collapsed in the early 1500's under economic decline, foreign invasion and internal strife. To keep the region out of the hands of the Spaniards, the emperor converted the republic into a grand duchy and awarded it in 1530 to the Medici family, who held it until its extinction in 1737. We don't know why this type would have been struck in Naples when the grand duke had a perfectly functional mint in Florence.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 4.40 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 335 (R2).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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