Papal States (1684-86) testone KM-441
This specimen was lot 2706 in Goldberg sale 109 (Los Angeles, January 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Italian States: Papal/Roman States. Testone, ND (1684-1686). Innocent XI, 1676-1689. A pristine original mint state example with gorgeous old cabinet toning. Rare. NGC graded MS-65." Berman lists seven different testone for this pope, varying in the design of the cartouche on the reverse. Ber-2102 has a cartouche on the reverse (struck 1684-89); -2103 adds a seraph (1684); -2104 has a laurel wreath (1684-85); -2105 has a rectangular plaque (1685); -2106 has the motto within an ornamental wreath (1686); -2107 within double hexagon (1686); -2108 within palm wreath (1689). Many varieties also come without date; none are rare. The testone was thirty baiocchi, while the piastra, the Italian equivalent of the German thaler, was 105 baiocchi (3½ testone). The reverse motto, "MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE," is the well known, "It is better to give than to receive."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.59 g, silver, 0.917 fine.
Catalog reference: Ber-2102, KM-441; Munt-143.
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, John Lavender, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 109: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2019.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
Link to:
- 1684 giulio
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, cherub at top of cartouche
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, cartouche with laurel branches
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, "MELIVS" bracketed by scrolls
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, "EST DARE" bracketed by corners
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, date on obverse
- 1684 piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year VIII, no bow
- (1684) piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year VIII, no bow
- (1684) piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year VIII, with bow
- 1684 piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year IX, with bow
- 1685 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE
- Coins and currency dated 1684
- return to coins of the Papal States