Venice (1695-96)-BM ducato Dav-4286
This specimen was lot 1812 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €220 (about US$298 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, VENISE, Silvestro Valier (1694-1700), AR ducato, s.d. (1695-1696). Sigle BM (Bernardo Manolesso). 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, devant une tour. Très Beau. (Italy, republic of Venice, Silvestro Valier, 1694-1700, undated silver ducat, initials BM. Obverse: the doge kneels before St. Mark, who offers him a banner; reverse: the lion of St. Mark to left, supporting the open Gospels, before a tower. Very Fine.)"
This type is mentioned in the SCWC with mintmasters FT and PM but not BM altho Bernardo Manolesso is attested in the introductory section. 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 22,48 g.
Catalog reference: KM 428, Dav-4286; Pap. 532, 72; Paolucci 113, 23.
- 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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