Malta 1773 20 scudi Fr-38
This specimen was lot 52432 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $6,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "MALTA. Knights of Rhodes (Knights Hospitaller/Order of St. John). 20 Scudi, 1773. Valletta Mint. Francisco Ximenez de Texada. NGC AU-55. Emanating from the brief reign of Ximenez de Texada as Grand Master, this wholly original and lightly circulated specimen delivers an olive-yellow hue to the color and presents a good deal of brilliance remaining in the protected areas." Francisco Ximenez de Texada ruled only 1773-75 over a state nearly bankrupted by the extravagance of his predecessor and his coins are few. This one year type is rare. The Knights of St. John, now the Order of Malta, still exist but are based in Rome where they run a hospital.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16 g, 0.840 fine gold.
Catalog reference: Fr-38; KM-289.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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