1590 silver coin! Help!

[BuckleBoy]

Hello All!

Does anyone have any info on this silver coin? It was not dug, but has been in the family for a while. My original hunch was that it is Italian... That is really just a shot in the dark, though. I am really familiar with American coins, but world coins are quite beyond me at this point. Any help is much appreciated.

Buckleboy

 

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[PBK]

Re: 1520 silver coin! Help!

It appears to be from the Italian city-state of Mantua in Lombardy. I have seen the same reverse, depicting St. George slaying a dragon, on slightly later Italian coins. The motto Protector Noster Aspice means, "Our protector looks upon us."

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: 1520 silver coin! Help!

I am also wondering if it is authentic, or if these were copied at all. I can't believe my shot in the dark was close. Is there a price guide available anywhere for the city-state Italian coins pre-unification?

Buckleboy

 

[PBK]

Re: 1520 silver coin! Help!

Unfortunately, I don't have any books covering Italian coinage prior to 1600. I'd say your best bet might be to e-mail the Italian Numismatic Society:

http://www.socnumit.org/e-menu.htm

 

[TheDane]

Re: 1520 silver coin! Help!

Hi BuckleBoy !!

Quite a puzzle to find out something, but I think I got it !!

I think the year is 1590 !!!

I think your coin is genuine.

It seems to be right that it comes from the Italy area.

VIN D G DUX MANT IIII ET MON(TIS) FER(RATI) II

This should mean like this:

Vincenzo, Dei Gratia fourth Duke of Mantua und second Duke of Montferrat.

Here you can read about Duke Vinzenzo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenzo_I_Gonzaga

Here in a German Coin Forum i found out what the abriviations mean, but its another coin.
http://www.numismatikforum.de/ftopic7746.html

I have not yet been able to find your coin in the Internet, which tells me that this coin must be quite rare !!

Hope you can use this information !!

Friendly regards
agersea

 

[relic lover]

Re: 1520 silver coin! Help!

Wow that is a beautiful coin, you should have it graded and preserved you haven't been polishing it have you? It is a great heirloom for your next generation, or there med-school fund!

 

[BuckleBoy]

I would NEVER "polish" a silver coin with anything!!! Anyhow, I believe the date of 1590 is correct.

Buckleboy

 

[relic lover]

I would NEVER "polish" a silver coin with anything!!! Anyhow, I believe the date of 1590 is correct.

Buckleboy

I guess I am just too used to seeing dug coins I never get to see a coin so clean looking! I agree on the date of 1590 for sure.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks, relic lover!

Buckleboy

 

[Functional]

Good shot in the dark. It's italian.
If you want to see it on the website I found it, (can't see why you would want to though), you have to use the search features on this website as links don't seem to go directly to it.
http://www.moneymuseum.com/
(They have info on the 1589 coin shown below.)

Here's the scoop on your coin:

Ducatone 1590, Duchy of Mantua
Mint Name: Mantua
Denomination: Ducatone (I have no idea what that is.)
Year: 1590
Minting Authority: Herzogtum Mantua
Weight in g. 32.06
Diameter in mm. 44.1
Metal: Silver
The one they show pictures of on that website and pictured below is owned by:
Schweizerisches Landesmuseum Dep. ZB
(Whomever that is.)




Have a good day!

F.

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

Very nice coin. Hope it's worth a mint!