Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1506. Estimate $250.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CRUSADERS, Duchy of Achaia. Robert d'Anjou. 1346-1364. AV Ducat (3.51 gm, 1h). S N VENETT left, LZELZDZVIO DVX right, St. Mark standing right, presenting banner to kneeling Doge; cross of dots and DVX in fields / \STTIT XP•C EAT Q•V CCTSTSTE D.V.CAT', Christ standing facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, surrounded by elliptical halo containing nine stars; symbol at feet. Cf. Gamberini 344; Cf. Ives pl. XII, 1 and pl. XIII, 2; Friedberg 38a. EF, small flan lamination. Exceptionally sharp strike. ($250)

The Venetian style imitative ducats copying the types of Giovanni Dandolo (1220-1289) are traditionally attributed to Robert d'Anjou as Duke of Achaia, but their widespread circulation and their numerous varieties leaves open the possibility of other minting sites, such as Chios or Rhodes.