Venice (1767)-DG 1/2 scudo
The first specimen was lot 2948 in Sincona sale 33 (Zürich, October 2016), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIA | Venice. Alvise Mocenigo IV. 1763-1778 Mezzo Scudo o. J. (1767). Münzmeister Domenego Gritti. Conservazione molto rara. Fdc. NGC MS65. (republic of Venice, Alvise Mocenigo IV, 1763-78, undated half scudo, mintmaster Domenego Gritti. Very rare grade, gem uncirculated.)"
The second specimen was lot 550 in Künker sale 400 (Berlin, February 2024), where it sold for €30,000 (about US$38,919 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"ITALIEN, VENEDIG, Alvise IV. Mocenigo, 1763-1778. Goldabschlag zu 6 Zecchini von den Stempeln des 1/2 Scudo della croce (70 Soldi) o. J. * ALOYSIVS · MOCENICO · DVX · VENETIAR Verziertes Kreuz, in den Winkeln je ein Blatt, unten: * D · G * (Münzmeister Domenego Gritti)//. SANCTVS · MARCVS · VENET · Markuslöwe in Wappenkartusche, unten * 70 *. GOLD. Von größter Seltenheit. Prachtexemplar. Min. gewellt, vorzüglich-Stempelglanz. (Italy, republic of Venice, Alvise IV Mocenigo, 1763-78, undated six zecchini struck using dies of a half scudo della croce. Obverse: leafy cross with a twig in each quadrant, mintamster's initials below; reverse: lion of St. Mark in ornate arms, value below. Of the greatest rarity, choice example, slightly wavy, extremely fine to uncirculated.)"
The Republic of Venice lasted nearly a thousand years between its foundation as a Byzantine outpost and its destruction by Napoleon in 1797. By 1767, Venice was in serious decline, her aristocracy decayed and her trade swallowed up by the British and the French. Venice did not add dates to her coinage until the mid-eighteenth century, two centuries after the rest of Europe adopted the practice. This mezzo scudo was accompanied by a mezzo ducato (KM C63) as well as a ducat (Fr-1421).
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 15.91 g, .948 fine silver, the second specimen is gold, 20.91 g.
Catalog reference: Gamberini 1709. CNI 8.486.11 ff, KM C56. The second specimen Montenegro 2874 (R4).
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Jürg Richter, Numismatic Coins & Medals, Auction 33, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2016.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 400: Selected löser of the Dukes of Guelph from the Friedrich Popken Collection | Numismatic treasures from the Medieval and Modern Times, a. o. "multiple portraits" from a Westphalian private collection, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
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