Tuscany 1772 ruspone Fr-334
This specimen was lot 21282 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Philadelphia, August 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Tuscany. Ruspone (3 Zecchini), 1772. Pietro Leopoldo (1765-90). NGC AU-55. Pietro Leopoldo (1747-92) was the third son of Francis I and Maria Theresia and was shuffled off to Tuscany to get him out of the way of his older brother Joseph II. Among other reforms, he abolished torture and capital punishment in his domain. He succeeded to the imperial throne on Joseph's death in 1790. An above average example of a rare type and similar in design to the earlier dated (1748) 3 Zecchini in this sale with the main distinction being in the engraving of John's clothing, this later date displaying a far coarser pattern." This type was struck 1765-90, i.e., Pietro's entire reign. This specimen sold for substantially less than the value listed in the SCWC. This coin had a face value of three ducats. Peter Leopold was the second son of Maria Theresia of Austria and emperor Joseph II's brother. He 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, .336 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-334; KM C28.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2018 Philadelphia ANA Auction: World Coins and Selections from the El Dorado Collection of Colombian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.
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