Naples 1731-VMA G carlino
This specimen was lot 2696 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 150 CHF (about US$180 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY | Naples / Sicily, Carlo III. 1707-1734. Carlino 1731, Napoli. Very rare. Good very fine. Minor adjustment marks." This type was issued 1730-33 by Carlo III, better known to history as Charles VI of Austria. Indeed, the obverse legend reads, "CAR·VI·D· G:ROM·IMP·". Naples and other Italian territories had been part of the Spanish Hapsburg inheritance and were seized by the Austrians on the death of Charles II of Spain. Sicily went to Savoy, then was traded to Austria for Sardinia, then was conquered by Charles III of Spain, younger son of Philip V. Sicily and Naples were finally reunited in 1734 when Charles III conquered that kingdom as well. The carlino, first struck in the fifteenth century, was ten grana or one-twelfth of a piastra.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 2.00 g, silver, 21 mm diameter, this specimen 1.97 g.
Catalog reference: KM 140, MIR 328/3 (R2).
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Fabrizi, Davide, Monete Italiane Regionale: Napoli, Pavia: Edizioni Numismatica Varesi, 2010.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
Link to: