Venice (1669-71)-ZQ ducato Dav-4267
This specimen was lot 1809 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €110 (about US$149 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, VENISE, Domenico Contarini (1659-1674), AR ducato nuovo, s.d. (1669-1671). Sigle ZQ (Zuane Querini). D/ Le doge agenouillé à g. devant saint Marc qui lui remet une bannière. R/ Le lion de saint Marc à g., ten. l'Evangile ouvert. A g., une citadelle sur un mont. Frappe faible au droit. Beau à Très Beau/Très Beau. (Italy, republic of Venice, Domenico Contarini, 1659-74, undated new silver ducat, initials ZQ. Obverse: the doge kneels before St. Mark, who offers him a banner; reverse: the lion of St. Mark to left, supporting the open Gospels; at left, a castle on a mountain. Weakly struck on the obverse, Fine - Very Fine/Very Fine.)"
The SCWC mentions this type with initials MM, GR, AD, AS, LP, ZQ (shown here), FZ, MV, GC and PZ. It had a face value of ninety soldi while another series of silver ducats, larger and heavier, were marked "124" for 124 soldi. The small ducati are scarce while the large ducati (which later became ducatone) are very rare. The scudo, larger yet, was 140 soldi or seven lira.
Recorded mintage: unknown but not common.
Specification: 23.40 g, .826 fine silver, 40 mm diameter, this specimen is 22,29 g.
Catalog reference: KM 321, Dav-4267; Paolucci 105, 14.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
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