★ Unpublished Massaro. ★

Italian States, Venice, Doge Giovanni Corner II, 1709-1722. Leone (10 Lire) per il Levante, ND (1715), mint master's initials DD (Domenego Diedo), plain edge, 26.91g. IOAN * CORNET •, S * M * VENET *, Doge kneeling before St. Mark, cross-tipped sceptre, between the two vertically “DVX” and mint master's “*D * D*” initials in exergue. / FIDES • ET • VICTORIA *, nimbate and winged Lion of St. Mark standing, holding cross and palm branch (cf. Paolucci p. 118, 42, another Massaro, [R4]; cf. Montenegro 2357, another Massaro, [R3]).

Extremely fine or better with mirror-like fields and much underlying lustre, excessively rare. The mint master's initials are not mentioned in Montenegro or Paolucci and we have not encountered any other example in other recent auctions.

From the “Doge” Collection.