Urbino (1574-1624) 30 quattrini
The first specimen was lot 1327 in Jean Elsen sale 137 (Brussels, June 2018), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, URBINO, Francesco Maria II della Rovere (1574-1624), AR 30 quattrini, s.d. D/ Ecu couronné. R/ Saint Jean et saint Jacques deb. f. à f. Beau à Très Beau. (duchy of Urbino, Francis Maria II of the Rovere, 1574-1624, undated silver 30 quattrini. Obverse: crowned arms; reverse: St. John and St. Jacob stand face to face. Fine to very fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 1799 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €320 (about US$433 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"ITALIE, URBINO, Francesco Maria II della Rovere (1574-1624), AR 30 quattrini, s.d. D/ Ecu couronné. R/ Vue de la ville sous un chêne. Rare Fines griffes au droit. Légèrement ébréché. Très Beau. (Italy, duchy of Urbino, Francesco Maria II della Rovere, 1574-1624, undated silver thirty quattrini. Obverse: crowned arms; reverse: city view under a tree. Rare, fine scratches on the obverse, lightly chipped, Very Fine.)"
The third specimen was lot 32589 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2024), where it did not sell. The catalog description[3] noted, "ITALY. Urbino. 2 Sedicine, ND (1574-1624). Francesco Maria II. NGC AU-58. A SCARCE type that one does not see at auction very often. Tied for the finest certified by NGC. The present example displays with great details and wholesomeness that is often lost to time." 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.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 2,64 g. The second specimen 2,52 g. The thrid specimen is 2.91 g.
Catalog reference: CNI XIII, 556, 91. The second specimen is CNI XIII, 557, 105.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 137, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018..
- [2]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
- [3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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