View source for Venice (1763-78) 20 zecchini Fr-1416

[[Image:H3096-30399o.jpg|300px|thumb|Heritage sale 3096, lot 30399]]
[[Image:H3096-30399r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

This specimen was lot 30399 in Heritage auction 3096 (Dallas, TX, March 2021), where it sold for $228,000. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"Astounding Choice Mint State 20 Zecchini. [[Italy, Venice|Venice]]. Alvise Mocenigo IV gold 20 Zecchini ND (1763-1778) MS63 NGC. Variety with six-pointed stars surrounding Christ, and long tail on Q. A coin which quite simply defies all expectations--an extraordinarily rare multiple zecchini preserved in Choice Mint State condition. Indeed, while a Venetian gold coin of this size can be counted as a true prize in-and-of-itself, finding one that has escaped both dings and cleaning is a nearly unbelievable feat. Lavishly produced on a comparatively even flan for the series, not a trace of detail is under-expressed or left wanting, with St. Mark and the Doge standing in nearly medallic relief against the mildly Prooflike fields. Awarded an R5 designation by Bellesia, indicating "only a few known," that same reference cites just two auction appearances for the type: one as part of Stack's March 1988 International Collection sale (lot 1388), and the other sold by Montenapoleone of Milan in May 1989, which could be this coin. Otherwise absent from auction records of the last several decades and missing from the holdings of Gnecchi and Morosini, we can think of no better prize for even the most scrupulous collectors of Venetian coinage. From the Paramount Collection."</blockquote> The SCWC lists this as 69.7 g, 0.999 fine gold. The doge struck numerous other multiple ducats. 

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 70 g, 0.986 fine gold, this specimen 69.72 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' KM 678.1 (Rare), Fr-1416 (Rare), CNI-VIIIb.116, Paolucci-129.7 (R4), Bellesia-360 (R5; this coin).

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* Michael, Thomas, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed.,'' Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
* 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. 
* <sup>[1]</sup>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.

''Link to:''
* [[Venice (1763-78) 1/4 zecchino Fr-1423|(1763-78) quarto zecchino]]
* [[Venice (1763-78) 1/2 zecchino Fr-1422|(1763-78) mezzo zecchino]]
* [[Venice (1763-78) zecchino Fr.1421|(1763-78) zecchino]]
* [[Venice (1763-78)-GMB 8 zecchini Fr-1420|(1763-78)-GMB 8 zecchini, struck using ducato dies]]
* [[Venice (1763-78) 10 zecchini Fr-1419|(1763-78) 10 zecchini]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1763]]

[[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3096]][[Category: Gold ducats of Europe]]