Genoa 1652-IAB 1/2 doppia Fr-432
This specimen was lot 1250 in Künker sale 352 (Osnabruck, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €1,800 (about US$2,505 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN, GENUA, Republik (Dogi Biennali), 1528-1797. 1/2 Doppia 1652, Genua. Mit Münzzeichen IAB auf der Rückseite. GOLD. RR Sehr schön. (Italy, republic of Genoa, biennial doges, 1528-1797. Half doppia of 1652, Genoa mint with mintmaster's initials IAB. Rare, very fine.)"
The doppia was originally a double scudo d'oro so having a half doppia wouldn't seem to make much sense but there it is. The SCWC lists this type for 1639-41, 1648, 1652, 1655-58, 164, 1675, 1690-92, 1697, 1709-36, 1747-49. One-eighth thru five doppia are also recorded. The SCWC lists this with the weight and fineness of a traditional ducat tho we suspect it was probably lighter.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.50 g, .986 fine gold, this specimen 3,32 g.
Catalog reference: KM 90, Fr-432; Lunardi 265 leicht var.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 352: Die Sammlung Hermann Schwarz: Faszination des gepragten Goldes. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
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