Venice (1732-33)-BV ducato Dav-1540
This specimen was lot 1816 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €130 (about US$176 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, VENISE, Carlo Ruzzini (1732-1735), AR ducato, s.d. (1732-1733). Sigle BV (Benetto Valier). D/ Le doge agenouillé à g. devant saint Marc qui lui remet une bannière. R/ Le lion de saint Marc à g., ten. l'Evangile ouvert. A g., une citadelle sur un mont. Eclat du flan sur la tranche. Beau à Très Beau. (Italy, republic of Venice, Charles Ruzzini, 1732-35, undated silver ducat, mintmaster BV. Obverse: the doge kneels before St. Mark who offers him a banner; reverse: the lion of St. Mark to left, holding the Gospels; at left, a castle on a mountain. Rim bump, Fine - Very Fine.)"
By this period, Venice was a ghost of her former power, surviving only on the sufferance of her Austrian and Turkish neighbors. Ducati were issued to this standard until the end of the republic. Other large silver coins included ducatoni (= 124 soldi), talleri, scudi (= 140 soldi) as well as a variety of gold coins, especially ducats. This type is also recorded with mintmaster BZ.
Recorded mintage: unknown but not common.
Specification: 23.40 g, .826 fine silver, 40 mm diameter, this specimen is 22,34 g.
Catalog reference: Pap. 650, 17; Paolucci 121, 11. KM 531, Dav-1540.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.
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