1476-1481 AD, Milan. Obv: profile female bust with BONA DVCI SA MLI 7C legend with 'comma' stops. Rev: youthful profile armoured bust with IO C3 M SF VI CECO DX M SX legend with pellet stops and 'head of St Ambrose' initial mark. Near extremely fine, surfaces lightly polished and with few small marks in legends (once claw mounted), extremely rare.

PROVENANCE:
Property of a Gentleman, by descent; found Malta, late 19th century.

LITERATURE:
Friedberg Italy 690; shown at Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge for verification, January 2012.

FOOTNOTES:
With its early renaissance style portraits of the young Duke and his mother, the Duchess-Regent, this rare and beautiful Milanese gold coin is one of the earliest double portrait types minted in Europe and the only Italian coin of this era to bear a female portrait. The Duke was the son of the depraved Galeazzo Maria Sforza (assassinated 1475) and his reign was disturbed by almost continuous warfare. The last example offered for sale appears to be one from different dies sold as Lot 899 in the Stack's, New York sale of 11th January 2010 (realised US$90,000 hammer). Offered with XRF metal analysis Certificate (AU 99.4%).