Naples and Sicily 1750-MMR piastra Dav-1400
This specimen was lot 2639 in Sincona sale 87 (Zürich, October 2023), where it sold for 275 CHF (about US$370 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Neapel / Sizilien, Carlo di Borbone, 1734-1759. Piastra (120 Grana) 1750, Napoli. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Leicht gereinigt. (Italy, kingdom of Naples and Sicily, Charles of Bourbon, 1734-59, piastra of 1750, Naples mint. Very fine-extremely fine, Lightly cleaned.)"
The SCWC notes that 120 grana = 1 piastra, where a piastra is roughly equal to a peso. Charles II, the last Hapsburg king of Spain, was also king of Naples and Sicily. After his death the area passed out of the hands of the Spanish crown, only to be reconquered by them in the 1730's. Charles III, king of Naples and Sicily, gave up his crown to become king of Spain on the death of his half brother, Ferdinand VI, in 1759. This type of 1750-54 is fairly inexpensive.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a better date.
Specification: 25.91 g, 0.961 fine silver, this specimen 25.09 g.
Catalog reference: KM 162, MIR 337, Dav-1400.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 87, World Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
- Davenport, John S., German Talers, 1700-1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1965.
- 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.
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