Venice (1591)-CB scudo Dav-8402
This specimen was lot 2954 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 300 CHF (about US$360 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY | Venice, Pasquale Cicogna, 1585-1595. Scudo della croce (140 Soldi) o. J, Venezia. Münzmeistersignatur CB (Cornelio Barbaro). Sehr schön. (Italy, republic of Venice, Pasqual Cicogna, 1585-95, undated scudo of the cross (140 soldi), Venice mint. Very fine.)"
This type, like many Venetian coins, is undated but can be limited to 1591 by the term of the moneyer Cornelio Barbaro. This coin was issued a few years after the battle of Lepanto, the Venetian navy's last act as a major sea power. Wikipedia comments, "Cornelio Barbaro was Massaro all’argento at the Zecca (the Venetian Mint) in 1591.... Cornelio Barbaro, son of Giovanni, was Massaro all’argento at the Zecca (the Venetian Mint) in 1606 and Castellan and Provveditore of Cerigo from 1612 to 1614." We presume the first Cornelio is the one who put his initials on this coin.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 31.83 g, 0.948 fine silver, this specimen 31.40 g.
Catalog reference: Montenegro 851. Dav-8402.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1484-1600, Frankfurt: Numismatischer Verlag, 1977.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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