411, Lot: 654. Estimate $200. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Alvise IV Giovanni Mocenigo. 1763-1779. AV Zecchino (21mm, 2.64 g, 12h). Indian imitation. Saint Mark standing right, blessing Doge kneeling left and holding cross-tipped staff / Christ standing facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, surrounded by mandorla containing sixteen stars. BM 1920.9.7.716. VF.

From the Norman Frank Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 54 (14 June 2000), lot 2006.

This coin retains its Western character well, although most pedigreed specimens are from India. An Indian manufacture is likely due to the plentiful number of examples found there. The closest parallel to the present example is the Hasluck Collection specimen in the British Museum. That coin was accessioned in 1920, with a provenance of Bhuttili, Gwalior State, India. This and a second coin are linked by the same obverse die, but the second coin is later (as the die is more worn), and its reverse imitates the preceding coin. The Haslick piece’s obverse was imitated from this obverse die. These zecchini were used on the Malabar coast, where they must have circulated as bullion alongside foreign coins and jewelry, although they were favored for their design elements.