Urbino. Francesco Maria I della Rovere, 1508-1516 and 1521-1538. Ducato, AV 3.42 g. ø 22 mm. FRAN MA – RI – VR DVX Armoured bust r., with long hair. Rev. S R E CAP GEN SVB IVL II PON MX Crowned eagle, standing l. with wings spread, holding with r. talon the della Rovere coat of arms. Bernareggi 240. Ravegnani Morosini 1 (ER). Cavicchi Urbino 61. Friedberg 1197. Extremely rare, only very few specimens known. A portrait of great beauty struck on a full flan. About extremely fine Ex Baranowsky sale 2 February 1932, Antica e Nobile Famiglia, 3170. From the Ernesto Bernareggi collection. Born at Senigallia, Francesco Maria was the son of Giovanni della Rovere and Giovanna da Montefeltro, daughter of Federico III da Montefeltro. He was also the nephew of Giuliano della Rovere, who became Pope Julius II. In 1504 his uncle Guidobaldo I, the last Montefeltro Duke of Urbino, designated him as his successor, and on Guidobaldo's death in 1508 Francesco Maria inherited the duchy. A distinguished condottiero, he was appointed Captain-General of the Papal forces by Julius II and fought in the Italian Wars against Venice and Ferrara. In 1508 he married Eleonora Gonzaga, daughter of Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, and Isabella d'Este. In 1513 Julius II also granted him Pesaro. His position depended heavily upon papal favour. After the death of Julius II in 1513, relations with the new Medici pope, Leo X, deteriorated. In 1516 Francesco Maria was deprived of Urbino, which was granted to Lorenzo de' Medici. He attempted to recover the duchy by force in 1517 and held out for several months before withdrawing to Mantua. On the death of Leo X in 1521 he recovered Urbino, and in 1523 received formal papal investiture. He subsequently continued his military career, serving with the Venetian and imperial forces in the Italian Wars. His later career was complicated by the struggle between the papacy, France, Venice and the Emperor Charles V. He died in 1538 and was succeeded by his son Guidobaldo II della Rovere. Please find here the video of the coin