Tuscany 1739 zecchino Fr-332
This specimen was lot 2119 in Künker sale 439 (Osnabrück, March 2026), where it sold for €1,600 (about US$2,201 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN, TOSKANA Francesco II. (III.) di Lorena, 1737-1765. Fiorino d'oro 1739, Florenz. In US-Plastikholder der NGC mit der Bewertung MS 61 (Top Pop) (5791066-008). GOLD. Attraktives Exemplar mit feiner Goldpatina, vorzüglich +. (Italy, grand duchy of Tuscany, Francis II of Lorraine, 1737-65, gold florin of 1739, Florence mint. Graded NGC MS-61. Attractive example with fine gold patina, extremely fine or better.)"
Numista notes that Francis is cited here as "FRANC·III·", not "FRANC·II·", as that was his numeral as duke of Lorraine. Francesco I de' Medici ruled 1574-87; if Francis of Lorraine's numbering is followed, there is no Francis II. None of the succeeding grand dukes, who ruled prior to unification in March 1860, called themselves Francis, perhaps to avoid the controversy. This type is noted for 1737-43.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.48 g, 0.999 fine gold, 22 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM C10, Fr-332; Montagano 351/3 (R2).
- 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.
- Montagano, Alessio, Monete Italiane Regionale: Firenze, Florence: Edizioni Numismatica Varesi, 2011.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Frühjahrs-Auktion 439: Gold Coins from around the world, particularly Denmark, Habsburg, Malta and Saxony | German Coins after 1871 including Coins from the Collection of Jürgen and Erika Schmidt, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2026.
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