Modena. Francesco I gold 12 Scudi d'Oro (12 Doppie) 1633 MS62 NGC, KM-(Fr)773 (Rare; this coin), Fr-773 (Rare), Gnecchi Collection-Unl., MIR-722 (R5), cf. Bellesia-23 (for 8 Doppie dated 1631), CNI-IXb.128. 39.33gm. An exceptional golden rarity issued under Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena from 1629 to 1658, who notably began work on the Ducal Palace, later completed by Francis V. Struck during the turbulent period of the Thirty Years' War and following the devastating effects of the 1629-1631 Italian Plague episode that saw huge death tolls throughout the wider Italian peninsula and in Modena itself, a coin of this gold weight would have represented an enormous value at the time of issuance. Both the Standard Catalog of World Coins and Friedberg call this issue "Rare," though even this distinction may represent somewhat of an understatement, and the sheer rarity of the issue is only further bolstered by this particular example's use as the plate coin in the Standard Catalog of World Coins. Lustrous and uncirculated, with sharp features highlighted by glistening brilliance that easily traverses the fields and a soft gold foil texture that attracts a prolonged gaze. This tremendous offering represents a giant of numismatics that may well be irreplaceable by virtue of its combined spectacular rarity and admirable conditional state. Ex. The International Sale (Stack's March 1988, Lot 1291)

HID09801242017

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