Venice (1773)-GP 1/2 ducato
This specimen was lot 30109 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it sold for $1,997.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Venice. Alvise Mocenigo IV 1/2 Ducato (1773)-GP MS63 NGC. Showing an impressive amount of champagne luster that glides over the surfaces, this selection which features the Lion of St. Mark, along with an aesthetically pleasing obverse motif, absolutely dazzles. Faint ghosting is evident on both sides; however, the devices are noticeably bold for the type, with only an isolated instance of softness noted on the reverse. For this scarcely-offered issue, the present example absolutely delights." By this period, Venice was a ghost of her former power, surviving only on the sufferance of her Austrian and Turkish neighbors. Medi (half) ducati were issued to this standard until the end of the republic. This type is recorded from the terms of mintmasters DG (Domenego Gritti, 1763-78), GAF (Giacomo Anzolo Foscarini, 1772-73) and GP (Giacomo Pasqualigo, 1773, shown here).
Recorded mintage: unknown but not common.
Specification: 11.7 g, .826 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 660 (formerly KM C63).
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3042, featuring the Read and Bob Bennett Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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