Venice (1523-39) scudo d'oro Fr-1448
This specimen was lot 5089 in Sincona sale 4 (Zürich, October 2011), where it sold for 900 CHF (about US$1,198 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Venezia Andrea Gritti, 1523-1539. Scudo d'oro o. J. Blumenkreuz. Rv. Markuswappen. Gutes sehr schön. (Republic of Venice, Andrea Gritti, 1523-39, gold scudo without date. Obverse: floriate cross; reverse: arms of St. Mark; good very fine.)"
The Duchy of Venice was actually an oligarchy nominally ruled by an elected doge. On the regular ducats, he is shown kneeling before the saint to indicate that he does not kneel before any living person, specifically the emperor or the pope. Despite his pretensions, Venetian independence was terminated by the Napoleonic invasions and the area fell to Austria in 1797. The scudo d'oro was supposed to be equal to the ducat but this specimen seems a little light; perhaps it was clipped.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.25 g, 0.917 fine gold, this specimen 3,14 g.
Catalog reference: Paolucci p. 59,3. Fr-1448.
- 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.
- Rafaele Paolucci, La Zecca di Venezia, 2 vols. Padua, 1991.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes: Auction 4, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2011.
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