Tuscany 1748 ruspone Fr-331
The first specimen was lot 1524 in Sincona sale 38 (Zürich, May 2017), where it sold for 1,350 CHF (about US$1,619 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Francesco II. di Lorena, 1737-1765 Ruspone 1748. Gutes sehr schön. (grand duchy of Tuscany, Francis II of Lorraine, 1737-65, ruspone of 1748. Good very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 3140 in Künker sale 294 (Osnabruck, Germany, July 2017), where it sold for €1,200 (about US$1,617 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"ITALIEN, TOSCANA, Francesco II. (III.) di Lorena, 1737-1765. Ruspone (3 Zecchini) 1748, Florenz. GOLD. R Leicht gewellt, sehr schön-vorzüglich. (grand duchy of Tuscany, Francis II (III) of Lorraine, 1737-65, ruspone of 1748, Florence mint. Scarce, light bend, very fine to extremely fine.)"
This type was struck 1746-63 for Francis of Lorraine, husband of Maria Theresia of Austria, who was given Tuscany as compensation for being ousted from Lorraine by the French. This coin had a face value of three ducats. Francis was succeeded by Peter Leopold, the second son of Maria Theresia. Peter Leopold became emperor himself on the death of Joseph in 1790 but his reign lasted only until his death in 1792. In 1800, Tuscany was occupied by the French and not returned to Hapsburg rule until 1815.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10.46 g, 0.999 fine gold, the first specimen 10.44 g, the second specimen 10.40 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 35/2. Fr-331, KM C11a, Montagano 359/2.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Auction 38, Gold Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
- [2]Künker Münzauktionen und Goldhandel, Katalog 294: Goldprägungen | Deutsche Münzen ab 1871 | Russische Münzen und Medaillen, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2017.
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