Malta 1756 5 scudi Fr-37
This specimen was lot 32981 in Heritage sale 3040 (Chicago, April 2015), where it sold for $540.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Emmanuel Pinto gold 5 Scudi 1756 AU Polished. A seldom encountered one year type. Most likely placed in jewel[l]ery long ago. Essentially no wear noted." This type was issued 1756 only. Malta, an island between Italy and Tunisia, was ruled by the Knights of St. John from the 1500's to their ouster by Napoleon in 1798. After Napoleon's fall, the British occupied the island as a base until the 1960's, when Malta became an independent republic. The Knights of St. John, now the Order of Malta, still exist but are based in Rome where they run a hospital. The Maltese used currency derived from their neighbors the Sicilians; 20 grani = 1 tari, 12 tari = 1 scudo.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4 g, .840 fine gold, .108 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: KM 254, Fr-37.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3040, featuring the Santa Maria, the Alan Dean and the Valley View Life Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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