2017-12-07 Thu

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is going to offer many interesting coins and paper money at the New York International Numismatic Convention in January. Highlights include a Venetian 40 Zecchini that was released during the reign of Paolo Renier (1779-1789). It is the second-last of Doge of Venice series from the Renaissance era, featuring Christian motifs that almost remained the same for 5 centuries. Smaller denominations like the Single Zecchino were used for common transactions in Venice. Coins worth 100 Zecchini and even higher were also struck.

The offered huge 40 Zecchini gold coin is one of these presentation pieces and weighs 139.23 grams. The coin was extremely valuable even for the Venetian aristocracy who received it. It is very difficult to find such type of coins in this size and weight. Experts believe that there are only two or three surviving specimens of this type. Certified as EF-45 by PCGS, it is the only coin to be graded by either PCGS or NGC. Apart from its rarity, the coins provenance dates back to the 19th century.