ITALY, Modena (Duchy). Cesare d'Este. 1597-1628. AR Ottavo di tallero – Giulio da 8 bolignini (26mm, 3.53 g, 4h). For circulation in the Levant. Struck circa 1599-1606. AU.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 759. Estimated: $ 2 000

World, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 4 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ITALY, Modena (Duchy). Cesare d'Este. 1597-1628. AR Ottavo di tallero – Giulio da 8 bolignini (26mm, 3.53 g, 4h). For circulation in the Levant. Struck circa 1599-1606. : CAESAR DVX : · MVTINAE : REG, armored half-length bust right, holding scepter in right hand and resting left on hilt of sword / : NOBILITAS : ESTENSIS :, crowned eagle facing with wings spread, head left. MIR – (but cf. 680 for Talleri of the same issue); CNI –; KM –; Nomisma S.p.a. 54 (30 August 2016), lot 1201 (same dies; hammer €5000). Lustrous. AU. Extremely rare and apparently the second and finest known.

In April 1599, Pietro Porto proposed to the Duke a plan to mint coins for circulation in the Levant. Mint records show that two denominations were struck, Talleri and Giuli of 8 bolognini, roughly equivalent in weight to an eighth of a Tallerro. The design of the Tallero was to include an armored figure of the Duke bearing a scepter, with the crowned coat-of-arms of d’Este on the reverse. Contemporary documents do not describe the design of the Giulio, but note that it should have an indication of its value of 8 bolignini, a prescript that was evidently not followed. (A. Crespellani, La Zecca di Modena [Modena, 1884], p. 77 and 79)

While the Talleri are extremely rare today, no examples of the Giuli were known until 2016. The present coin is significantly finer.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Three – Lot 595-896 will be held Wednesday morning, 16 September 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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