Naples and Sicily (1548)-IBR 2 scudo d'oro Fr-831
This specimen was lot 1495 in Jean Elsen sale 109 (Brussels, June 2011) where it sold for 5,700 euros (about US$9,637 with buyer's fee). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, NAPLES, Charles Quint (1516-1554), AV doppio scudo d'oro, s.d. (1548), Droit: B. radié et cuirassé de l'empereur à droite. A gauche, sigle IBR (Giovan Battista Ravaschieri). Revers: MAGNA· OPERA· DOM· La Paix marchant à gauche, tenant une corne d'abondance et enflammant de sa torche un livre et des armes au sol. Rare. Cette monnaie fut frappée 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 jamais l'inquisition n'y serait 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. Superbe. (Italy, kingdom of Naples, Charles V (1516-54), gold double scudo, no date. Obverse: crowned and armored bust of the emperor facing right, with the engraver's monogram in the left obverse field; reverse: Peace bearing a cornucopia and a flaming torch and a book in her arm. Rare. This coin was struck to commemorate the edict of 23 October 1547 in which Charles V granted pardon to the Neapolitans opposing the imposition of the Inquisition. The city had received a promise from Ferdinand the Catholic that the Inquisition would never be established there. Thanks to the confirmation of this privilege, Naples was the only part of Charles's empire never to be subjected to the Inquisition. Extremely Fine.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, this specimen 6,75 g.
Catalog reference: CNI XIX, 292, 33 var; P.& R., 5a; Fr-831.
- 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, Vente Publique 109, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses fils, S.A., 2011.
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- return to coins of Italy, Naples & Sicily