ITALY, Napoli (Regno). Ferdinando II d'Aragona and Isabella di Castiglia (I re cattolici– the Catholic royals). 1474-1504. AV Ducato (24mm, 3.48 g, 11h). Napoli (Naples) mint; Gian Carlo Tramontano, maestro di zecca. Struck 1503-1504.

Triton XXIII – Session Four – World Coinage Part II, British Coinage and Medals, and Large Lots
Lot: 1136. Estimated: $ 25 000

World, Gold

Sold For $ 20 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ITALY, Napoli (Regno). Ferdinando II d'Aragona and Isabella di Castiglia (I re cattolici– the Catholic royals). 1474-1504. AV Ducato (24mm, 3.48 g, 11h). Napoli (Naples) mint; Gian Carlo Tramontano, maestro di zecca. Struck 1503-1504. FERDINANDVS • ET • HELISAB • D • G •, crowned coat-of-arms; I T flanking shield / + QVOS DEVS CONIVNGIT OMO NON SEP, crowned confronted busts of Ferdinand and Isabella; annulet and double-annulet stops. CNI XIX 4 and pl. XII, 2 (same obv. die); MIR 114 (same rev. die as illustration); Pannuti-Riccio 1 (same obv. die as illustration); MEC 14 –, Friedberg 827. EF. Extremely rare.

Ex Caballero de las Yndias Collection (Part II, Aureo & Calicó 218.2, 3 June 2009), lot 724.

The Italian Wars of the 16th century (1494-1556), pitted the various Italian states, along with their respective overlords, for domination of the Italian Peninsula. The situation was a quixotic one, since alliances changed so often that the former allies turned enemies, and vice versa. Two of the most powerful players in these wars were France and Spain. France’s king, Louis XII, taking advantage of Milan’s request for aid, used the opportunity to expand his influence in Italy. In 1500, he signed a treaty with the newly unified Spanish monarchy to divide Naples. This arrangement, however, was short lived and in December 1503, the Spanish recovered the Neapolitan territory ceded to France. To celebrate this recovery, the Spanish began to issue Neapolitan ducats. Based on the Castilian excelente, but with obverse dies cut by Renaissance Italian celators, the first issue, with the confronted busts of Ferdinand and Isabella, was minted between the end of December 1503 and 26 November 1504, when Isabella died, making this coin extremely rare.

The final winners of all Triton XXIII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 14-15 January 2020. Triton XXIII – Session Four – World Coinage Part II, British Coinage and Medals, and Large Lots will be held Wednesday afternoon, 15 January 2020 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and in person at the public auction, 22.50% for all others.