Tuscany 1746 1/2 francescone
This specimen was lot 3317 in Sincona sale 26 (Zürich, October 2015), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$247 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY, Firenze, Francesco III. di Lorena, 1737-1765 1/2 Francescone 1746. Gutes sehr schön. (Italy, grand duchy of Tuscany, Francis III of Lorraine, 1737-65, half francescone of 1746, good very fine.)"
This is a better date of a type struck 1746 and 1756-64. 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.75 g, 0.917 fine silver, .405 troy oz ASW; this specimen 13.50 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 364/2, KM C7.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Ruedi Kunzmann and Arne Kirsch, Numismatic Coins & Medals, Auction 26, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2015.
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