World Gold - (1442-1458) Ducatone d'oro, Naples Italy, FR-816 NGC MS63+

Stunning artifact of the Renaissance. NGC has graded only one as MS63+ with 3 finer. There is a small total of 10 pieces of this issue graded by NGC.

The flan is slightly out-of-round, with slight weakness in the legends. However, the devices on both sides are sharply struck. The obverse presents King in full armor brandishing a sword, mounted upon his noble steed, also fully armored. There is a 'B' in the left field, presumably for the royal assayer. Both figures are within a lined circle, within a beaded circle. The obverse legend reads: 'DnS: m: ADIVT [:On] ET: EGO: DESP: In: m: (small cross).' Around the legend is a beaded circle at the rim. The reverse displays the quadripartite arms of Hungary, Jerusalem, Aragon, and Naples. The reverse legend reads: 'ALFOnSVS: aDI: G: G: ARAGOn: D: a: V: A (small cross).' This is a dramatic example of Renaissance numismatic art, both for its artistry as well as its superior state of preservation. The collector who purchases this will truly have a golden numismatic treasure of the Renaissance. FR-816; Bellesia-7 (R); MIR-52var (R2; legends).

Alfonso as a Knight of the Golden Fleece, a miniature from southern Netherlands, 1473. Image: Wikipedia.

Alfonso the Magnanimous (1396-1458) ruled as King of Aragon and King of Sicily (as Alfonso V), as well as ruler of the Crown of Aragon beginning in 1416 and King of Naples (as Alfonso I) from 1442 until his passing in 1458. This coin offered by AUCM honors Alfonso during his rule as King of Naples. He engaged in fights to attain the throne of the Kingdom of Naples against Louis III of Anjou (France), Joanna II of Naples, and their adherents. In due course he failed, losing Naples in 1424. However, he recaptured it in 1442 and was then crowned King of Naples. He had a strong relationship with his vassal, Stjepan Vukčić Kosača, a powerful Bosnian nobleman, and his ally, Skanderbeg, the Lord of Albania. Alfonso provided military assistance in their conflicts in the Balkans. He also led diplomatic relations with the Ethiopian Empire and was a prominent figure of the early Renaissance, supporting literature and commissioning building projects for the Castel Nuovo (also called Maschio Angioino)  in central Naples.