411, Lot: 655. Estimate $200. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Paolo Renier. 1779-1789. AV Zecchino (21mm, 3.51 g, 6h). 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. EF, double struck.

From the Norman Frank Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 54 (14 June 2000), lot 2005.

This coin appears to be one of the earliest imitations form India, struck soon after the import of ducats waned. The style contains various traits which appear and strengthen in 18th-19th century Indian imitations. These include: crudity of the obverse legends, the use of gamma, the fragmented rendition of St. Mark and the Doge, and the linear appearance of Christ’s portrait, with loss of details.