ITALIAN STATES - HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (962-1806) / SPANISH EMPIRE - THE MOST SERENE REPUBLIC OF GENOA (1005-1815)
REIGN OF EMPEROR CHARLES V (1519 - 1556) (CARLOS I KING OF SPAIN FROM 1516)
CERTIFIED NGC MINT STATE 63 - THE BIENNIAL DOGES GOLD SCUDO (SCUDO D'ORO or HALF DOPPIA)
"RARE IN MINT STATE"
OBV: (FIRST PHASE) WITHIN BEADED CIRCLE AN ORNATE CASTLE, FLOWER IN CENTER.
REV: CROSS WITHIN BEADED CIRCLE.
FR # 412
THE FRENCH BID FOR CONTROL OF ITALY IN THE EARLY 16th CENTURY WAS THWARTED BY IMPERIAL AND SPANISH MILITARY POWER. THE FRENCH OCCUPATION OF GENOA CAME TO AN END AFTER THE FAMOUS GENOESE ADMIRAL, ANDREA DORIA, MADE AN ALLIANCE WITH HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR CHARLES V. THE FRENCH WERE DRIVEN OUT, AND IN 1528 THE FIRST LOANS FROM GENOESE BANKS TO THE EMPEROR BEGAN. AS A JUNIOR ASSET, GENOA PROSPERED IN ITS DEALINGS WITH THE SPANISH EMPIRE, ESTABLISHING COUNTING HOUSES IN SEVILLE AND FINANCING MANY ENDEAVORS OF THE CROWN.
ORIGINALLY, THE ELECTED RULER OF THE REPUBLIC OF GENOA, THE DOGE, WAS ELEVATED FOR LIFE. AFTER REFORMS BY ANDREA DORIA, THE DOGE WAS ELECTED FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM, HENCE BIENNIAL DOGE. THIS COIN WAS MINTED IN THAT ERA, BETWEEN 1541-1555, FALLING WITHIN THE TERMS OF 8 SERVING DOGES.
CONTAINS GOLD
23 MM IN DIAMETER
