1 Ducato - Filippo Spinola

Historical Context: This 1 Ducato was issued by Filippo Spinola, Count of Tassarolo, during his extensive rule from 1616 to 1688. Tassarolo, a small but strategically positioned county within the fragmented Italian States, exercised its sovereign right to mint coinage. The issuance of gold ducats, a widely accepted international trade currency, affirmed Spinola's authority and provided crucial revenue, reflecting 17th-century Italian fiefdom realities.

Artistry: While the specific engraver remains unrecorded, this ducato exemplifies prevailing Late Renaissance and early Baroque numismatic artistry common across northern Italian mints. The obverse typically features a dignified, often idealized, bust of Filippo Spinola, rendered to capture regal presence. The reverse design invariably showcases the intricate heraldic arms of the Spinola family, often surmounted by a count's coronet, meticulously detailed to convey lineage and status.

Technical/Grading: Struck in gold, weighing 3.41 grams and measuring 24 millimeters, the 1 Ducato typically exhibits a strong strike, characteristic of high-value gold issues. Key high-points for grading include the hair and facial features on the obverse portrait, and the crown and intricate elements of the heraldic shield on the reverse. Well-preserved examples retain significant luster and sharp details; however, minor planchet irregularities or slight off-center strikes are not uncommon from smaller mints of this period.