Tuscany 1807 francescone Dav-155
The first specimen was lot 22867 in Heritage sale 3010 (Boston, August 2010), where it sold for $402.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Tuscany. Carlo Luigi and Maria Luisa Francescone 1807, XF, deeply toned. A most attractive example." The second specimen was lot 74051 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY. Tuscany. Francescone (10 Paoli), 1807. Pisa Mint. Carlo Ludovico with Maria Luisa as Regent. PCGS AU-53. A charming issue from the Napoleonic era, exhibiting silvery gray obverse toning evolving into a medium gray at the periphery. The obverse is a uniform medium gray throughout. A piece of interest to Italian and Napoleonic enthusiasts." This type is listed for 1803 and 1806-07 and is inexpensive for an Italian crown. A variety exists with the king's name spelled "CAROLUS" instead of "CAROLVS" (shown here). It was struck 1803-04 for Charles Louis, king of Etruria, and his mother, the regent Maria Luisa of Spain.The Grand Duchy of Tuscany, founded by the Medici in the early 1500's, collapsed in 1799 with the arrival of Napoleon's army. The region went thru many vicissitudes until it was annexed outright by Napoleon in 1807, only to be returned to the Hapsburgs in 1814. It was incorporated into the new kingdom of Italy in 1860.
Recorded mintage: unknown but fairly common.
Specification: 27.50 g, 0.917 fine silver, 40-42 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Mont-247, Pag. 31, Dav-155, KM C50.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- 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]Tucker, Warren, Scott Cordry and John Kraljevich, Heritage Sale 3010: World Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2010.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
Link to: