Venice (1709-22) 25 zecchini Fr-1364
This specimen was lot 30390 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $180,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Impressive 25 Zecchini of Giovanni Corner II Struck on a Highly Medallic Flan. Venice. Giovanni Corner II gold 25 Zecchini ND (1709-1722) AU55 NGC, A coin which instantly makes the details of the famous scene of St. Mark anointing the Doge of Venice, normally available only in the small single zecchini, all the more appreciable. Benefitting from, and even seeming to boast in, its broad format, the coin demonstrates almost perfect centering on an extra broad flan that noticeably extends past the denticles. Though scattered contact bounds the assigned grade, the facial features of Corner, St. Mark, and Christ retain a delightful expressiveness; all of the designs, in fact, remain quite clear. Interestingly, this piece appears to have been struck from the same reverse (as holdered) die later used for the 20 Zecchini of Alvise Mocenigo IV also included in the Paramount Collection, showing the same distinctive styles on the Q, C in DVCAT, and A in DAT especially (though the die would have been mildly reworked on the 20 Zecchini, which was minted around 40 years later!). If anything, this fact can perhaps be taken as an indication of the enviable style that the engraver accomplished. Missing from recent auction results, the next closest comparison we can draw for the curious bidder is to a 15 Zecchini of the same Doge, certified XF45, which we sold in our April Auction #3083 for an all-in price of $50,400. From the Paramount Collection."
The SCWC lists this type as 87.35 g, 0.999 fine gold. This doge issued numerous other multiple ducats.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 87.5 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 86.82 g.
Catalog reference: KM 489 (Rare), Fr-1364 (Rare), Paolucci-118.4 (R5), Bellesia-236 (R5), CNI-VIIIb.91.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3096, featuring the Paramount Collection of World & Ancient Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2021.
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