Naples (1548)-IBR 4 scudi d'oro Fr-830
This specimen was lot 1970 in Jean Elsen sale 162 (Brussels, June 2025), where it sold for €44,000 (about US$60,984 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, NAPLES, Charles Quint (1516-1554), AV quadrupla (4 scudi), s.d. (1548). D/ B. l. et cuir. de l'empereur à d. En dessous, sigle IBR (Giovan Battista Ravaschieri). R/ MAGNA OPERA DOMINI La Paix marchant à g., ten. une corne d'abondance et enflammant de sa torche un livre et des armes posés au sol. Extrêmement rare. Léger tréflage au droit. Très beau portrait vigoureux de l'empereur. (Italy, kingdom of Naples, Charles V, 1516-54, undated gold quadruple scudo, circa 1548. Obverse: laureate and armored bust of the emperor, assayer's initials below; reverse: Peace strides left bearing a cornucopia and holding a torch lighting a book, Extremely rare, slight doubling on the obverse, handsome and vigorous portrait of the emperor, Extremely Fine.)
Ce spectaculaire multiple de quatre ducats fut frappé pour commémorer l'édit du 23 octobre 1547 par lequel Charles Quint accordait son pardon aux Napolitains qui s'étaient opposés par les armes à l'institution du tribunal de l'Inquisition dans leur ville. En effet, la ville avait reçu de Ferdinand le Catholique la promesse que l'Inquisition n'y serait jamais établie. Grâce à la confirmation de ce privilège, Naples fut le seul territoire de l'empire de Charles Quint qui ne subit pas les foudres de l'Inquisition. Provient de Hess-Divo, Zurich, vente 315, 28 octobre 2009, 1219. (This spectacular multiple of four ducats was struck to commemorate the edict of October 23, 1547, by which Charles V pardoned the Neapolitans who had opposed by force of arms the establishment of the Inquisition in their city. Indeed, the city had received from Ferdinand the Catholic the promise that the Inquisition would never be established there. Thanks to the confirmation of this privilege, Naples was the only territory of Charles V's empire that did not suffer the wrath of the Inquisition.)"
This coin was accompanied by a double scudo (Fr-831 and Fr-831a). It is also known with mintmaster "A".
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.5 g, gold, this specimen 13,50 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB77, P.R. 1a; M.I.R. 124; Fr-830.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 162: Collection Jacques Druart, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2025.
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