Tuscany 1745 1/2 francescone
This specimen was lot 942 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €95 (about US$132 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, TOSCANE, François II de Lorraine (1737-1746), AR mezzo francescone, 1745, Florence. Petit module (34 mm). D/ B. l. et cuir. à d. R/ Écu dans un cartouche orné et couronné. (Italy, grand duchy of Tuscany, Francis II of Lorraine, 1737-46, silver half francescone of 1745, Florence mint, small diameter. Obverse: laureate and armored bust right; reverse: arms in an ornate crowned cartouche. Fine - Very Fine.)"
This type was struck 1738-45. Francis was the husband of Maria Theresia of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor. He was originally duke of Lorraine but was evicted by the French and given Tuscany as compensation, the native Medici having gone extinct. This coin had a face value of five paoli. Neither the SCWC nor Numista mention any variation in diameter.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.6 g, 0.917 fine silver, 34 mm diameter, this specimen 13,35 g.
Catalog reference: KM C6, M.I.R. 355/8.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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