1 Scudo d'Oro - Carlo VI

Historical Context: The 1 Scudo d'Oro of Carlo VI, struck between 1712 and 1714, encapsulates a pivotal moment in Sardinian history. Following the War of the Spanish Succession, the Kingdom of Sardinia was assigned to Charles VI of Habsburg, Holy Roman Emperor, by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. This brief period of Hapsburg dominion, preceding its exchange for Sicily in 1720, reflects the complex geopolitical realignments of early 18th-century Europe, where territories were often transferred as spoils of war, rather than by local self-determination. This coinage thus serves as a tangible record of Hapsburg suzerainty over the island.

Artistry: While specific engraver details for this issue are often unrecorded, the coin's artistry aligns with the late Baroque aesthetic prevalent in Hapsburg mints. The obverse typically features a laureate and draped bust of Carlo VI, rendered with imperial gravitas and classical allusions. The reverse commonly displays the crowned imperial double-headed eagle or the arms of Sardinia, intricately detailed to convey the sovereign's authority and the island's heraldic identity. The execution demonstrates the skilled craftsmanship of the period's die-sinkers, reflecting a blend of formal portraiture and symbolic heraldry.

Technical/Grading: This gold scudo, weighing 3.14 grams and measuring 22 millimeters, exhibits the characteristic qualities of manually struck coinage. High-points for grading include the hair, laurel wreath, and drapery on the emperor's bust, and the intricate details of the eagle's feathers or armorial elements on the reverse. Collectors should examine the fields for typical striation marks and planchet irregularities inherent to the production method. A strong strike will show full separation of the imperial crown details and sharp definition of the legends, with minimal weakness in the peripheral devices.