Venice (1741-42)-FP 20 zecchini
This specimen was lot 21150 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $120,000. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Likely Unique Off-Metal Striking in 20 Zecchini Weight! ITALY. Venice. Gold Ducatone of 20 Zecchini Weight, ND (1741/2)-FP. Pietro Grimani. NGC MS-61. Obverse: S M V PETRVS GRIMANI D, doge kneeling left, presenting cruciform staff with banner to winged lion of St. Mark seated to left; Reverse: MEMOR ERO TVI IVSTINA VIRGO, St. Justina standing facing, holding quill and being pierced by cruciform dagger. In the reverse exergue of this tremendously interesting specimen is the number 124 (soldi), indicating that this die was, in fact, prepared for striking the silver Ducatone (Dav-1545), with neither Friedberg nor KM listing this spectacular piece in gold. The monumental Corpus Nummorum Italicorum of Numismatist-King Vittorio Emanuele III lists five smaller denominations and weights that share this remarkable design, but even in that immense reference to all issues Italian, no such piece like our present example is listed. We expect a great deal of interest and enthusiasm for this astounding coin, instantly serving as a keystone to any highly advanced and well-cultivated collection. Visually impressive and a historical RARITY, this unpublished gold piece will assuredly impress. Ex: Stack's (1/2008) Lot # 3050. Ex: Leu 89 (10/2003) Lot # 289."
Besides the usual half and one zecchino, the republic struck a long series of multiple ducats in numerous denominations. Most doges did not strike all the denominations that are known and Pietrio Grimani is no exception. The SCWC lists the following for this doge:
- zecchino (KM 587),
- 2 zecchini (KM 588),
- 10 zecchini (KM 589),
- 15 zecchini (KM 590),
- 22 zecchini (KM 591),
- 25 zecchini (KM 592),
- 28 zecchini (KM 593),
- 50 zecchini (KM 594).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: weight ranges 69.6-69.88 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 44 mm; 69.90 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-Unlisted; KM-Unlisted; Gamberini-1505.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
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