Urbino (1513-16) ducat Fr-1197
This specimen was lot 1067 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $11,025. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY, Urbino (Duchy). Francesco Maria I della Rovere, with Pope Leo X. First reign, 1508-1516. AV Ducato. Urbino mint. Struck 1513-1516. Armored bust right / Crowned eagle standing left, with wings spread, resting claw on coat-of-arms to left. In NGC encapsulation 6864711-006, graded XF 45. Very rare citing Leo X. From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection. Ex Dr. Lawrence A. Adams Collection (Triton XIX, 6 January 2016), lot 2529, purchased from Bank Leu, October 1984." The collapse of the authority of the pope in the Papal States in the late middle ages allowed many petty lordships to spring up, including Urbino near San Marino, long ruled by the Montefeltre family. The last Montefeltre duke was dispossessed by Cesare Borgia in 1502 and the duchy passed to the della Rovere family. The della Rovere ruled Urbino under papal suzerainty until the extinction of the family in 1626. This is one of two ducats issued by this ruler, the other being Fr-1198. Varieties exist; the plate coin in Friedberg mentions Julius II on the reverse while this specimen cites Leo X.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.49 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 21 mm diameter, 3.45 g, 6 h axis.
Catalog reference: Cavicchi 63; Adams III 2529 (this coin); Friedberg 1197 var. (citing Julius II).
- 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]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.
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