Venice (1656-58)-BV 12 soldi
This specimen was lot 75317 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Venice. 12 Soldi, (1656-58)-BV. Bertucci Valier. NGC AU-58. Valued at 2 Soldi. Doge is kneeling on the obverse, holding staff and cross. Reverse has the lion of St. Mark facing left. Impressive deep charcoal toning." The ducato was ninety soldi, the ducatone was 124 soldi and the scudo was 140 soldi. This twelve soldi isn't an even fraction of any of them. Perhaps it was intended for Venetian possessions in the Mediterranean, such as Crete, then being besieged by the Turks.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.03 g, 0.434 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-263; Paolucci-15.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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