Venice (1578-79)-AL 1/2 scudo
This specimen was lot 840 in Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 550 (Lancaster, PA, November 2023) where it sold for $360. The lot description noted, "ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Nicolò da Ponte. 1578-1585. AR Mezzo scudo da 4 lire – 80 Soldi. Struck 1578-1579. St. Mark seated right, presenting cross-tipped banner to Doge kneeling left; A L in exergue / St. Justina, sword stuck in her chest, standing right, holding pal[m] branch and gospel over lion of St mark to right, head left. Paolucci 5. Toned, edge marks, scattered marks and light scratches. VF. From the St. George Collection, purchased from Jean Elsen." This coin was issued a few years after the battle of Lepanto, the Venetian navy's last act as a major sea power. The SCWC lists the eighty soldi as late as 1615 (KM 70). Thereafter, the half scudo was reduced to 15.91 g and tariffed at seventy soldi or three lire.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 18.19 g, 0.948 fine silver, 36-37 mm diameter, this specimen 36 mm diameter, 18.01 g, 11h axis.
Catalog reference: KM MB240, Pap. 363, 29; Paolucci 72, 5.
- Rafaele Paolucci, La Zecca di Venezia, 2 vols. Padua, 1991.
- Nicol, N. Douglas, Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
Link to:
- Venice (1577-78)-FB 40 soldi Sebastiano Venier
- Venice (1578)-HM 40 soldi = 2 lire = quarto scudo
- (1578-85) mezzo scudo da 80 soldi
- (1578-85) zecchino
- (1581-82)-AD mezzo scudo da 80 soldi
- (1583-84)-CC scudo
- Venice (1584-85)-AM 20 soldi = lira
- Coins and currency dated 1578