Venice (1741-62) 1/2 zecchino Fr-1402

Heritage sale 3029, lot 31621

This specimen was lot 31621 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $305.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Venice. Pietro Grimani gold 1/2 Zecchino ND (1741-52), XF45 NGC. Lightly toned and original, a faint wave to the flan. Scarce denomination." The Duchy of Venice was actually an oligarchy nominally ruled by an elected doge. He is shown kneeling before the saint to indicate that he does not kneel before any living person, specifically the emperor or the pope. Despite his pretensions, Venetian independence was terminated by the Napoleonic invasions and the area fell to Austria in 1797. The zecchino, or ducat, remained fixed in design for centuries, changing only the ruler's name.

Recorded mintage: unknown but a common type.

Specification: 1.75 g, .986 fine gold, .056 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Fr-1402.

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.
• ^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.

Link to:

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• return to coins of Italy, Venice