Naples and Sicily 1789-P 9 cavalli
This specimen was lot 30777 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $1,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "Naples & Sicily. Ferdinando IV 9 Cavalli 1789-P, MS64 Brown NGC. Very choice, this warm chocolate brown piece displays considerable mint luster around the devices. The portrait details are exacting and the reverse is quite charming in its puerility." 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. Ferdinand IV was the third son of Charles III, king of Spain 1759-88 and the younger brother of Charles IV. This type is listed for 1788-92. The SCWC notes that 120 grani = one piastra, where a piastra is roughly equal to a peso. Six cavalli made a tornesi and 240 tornese made a piastra, so nine cavalli = 1/160 piastra.
Specification: 4.68 g, copper.
Recorded Mintage: unknown.
Catalog reference: KM-C37, MIR-400/1.
- 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.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
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