Naples and Sicily 1798-PM AP 20 grana
This specimen was lot 71604 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Naples & Sicily (Naples). 20 Grana, 1798-PM AP. Naples Mint. Ferdinand IV. PCGS MS-63. This handsome Choice example displays a rich luster and exceptionally charming details. A few light adjustment marks are noted on the reverse." The SCWC notes that 12 carlini = 6 tari = 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. Ferdinand IV was the third son of Charles III, king of Spain 1759-88 and the younger brother of Charles IV. This type, equal to a tari, was struck 1790-98 tho only the 1790 is scarce. The purchaser of this lot obtained a bargain, as it realized two-fifths of the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.58 g, 0.833 fine silver, 25 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 210.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to: