ITALY. Venice. Gold 1/2 Ducato of 4 Zecchini, ND (1789-97)-ZD. Ludovico Manin. NGC EF Details--Tooled. Fr-Unlisted (though cf. 1443 & 1444 for 5 & 2 zecchini, respectively); KM-Unlisted; CNI-39. Weight: 13.86 gms. Obverse: S M V LVDOVICV MANIN, St. Mark seated right, holding cruciform banner and blessing doge kneeling to right; Reverse: MEDI DVCAT VENET, winged lion of St. Mark left, head facing, resting forepaw upon open book propped against tower. This INCREDIBLY RARE denomination, unlisted in both Friedberg and KM, is mentioned in the Corpus Nummorum Italicorum</em>, with the exact legend characteristics (stops included) of this piece matching that of those referenced there. Whats more, the weight of the Kings example in CNI</em> (13.85 gms) is almost identical to this specimen, with the difference possibly being a minor accounting error. Given the intense rarity and the fact that so many specifics are a match (or near-match), it is entirely possible that this example is that which is referenced in CNI</em>. Ex: Stacks (1/2008) Lot # 3057.