Urbino (1621) scudo Dav-4222
This specimen was lot 472 in Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 89 (Milan, November 2015) where it sold for 2,250 EUR (about US$2,860 including buyer's fees). The lot description noted,
"La collezione DPF di monete del Ducato d'Urbino, Francesco Maria II della Rovere, 1574-1624, Scudo da 20 grossi. FRANCISCVS MARIA II VRBINI DVX VI ET C Stemma a testa di cavallo inquartato e coronato. Rv. GROSSI / X X entro cartella a lati rettilinei e curvilinei; in basso, ai lati, L X. CNI –. Molto raro. Patina di medagliere. Spl. (duchy of Urbino, Francesco Maria II della Rovere, 1574-1624, scudo of twenty grossi. Obverse: quartered and crowned arms; reverse: value in ornate cartouche. Very rare, medallic patina, extremely fine.)"
This undated type is very similar to Dav-4220 of 1621, so we attribute it to the same year. 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, 41-42 mm diameter, this specimen 25,24 g.
Catalog reference: Cav. 176 var., Dav-4222 = KM.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
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