Papal States (1700-21) 1/2 grosso Ber-2439
This specimen was lot 1532 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €440 (about US$577 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"PAPST CLEMENS XI., 1700-1721. Die Münzstätte Rom. ½ Grosso o. J., Rom. Mit PONT • M in der Vorderseitenumschrift, die Rückseite mit DEDIT / PAVPE : / RIBVS. Vorzüglich. (Papal States, Clement XI, 1700-21, undated half grosso, Rome mint. With "PONT • M" in the obverse legend and "DEDIT / PAVPE : / RIBVS" on the reverse. Extremely fine.)"
The reverse motto translates as, "He gave to the poor". It is taken from Psalm 111:9: "Dispersit, dedit pauperibus; justitia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi; cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria." ("He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.") The mezzo grosso was the smallest silver coin, being one quarter of a giulio or one twelfth of a testone. This tiny coin and the related Ber-2440 are not listed in the SCWC; we believe them to be rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.76 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 0,76 g.
Catalog reference: KM unlisted, Berman 2439; Muntoni 160; Toffanin 2324/1 (R).
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 403: Coins and Medals of the Popes - The significant collection of a southwest German entrepreneur, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
Link to:
- 1698 mezzo grosso, DA PAVPERI
- (1700-21) mezzo grosso, ESVRI/ENTEM/NE/DESPE/XERIS
- 1700 giulio, Holy Door with four columns
- 1700 giulio, Innocent XII, Jubilee year
- 1700 giulio, sede vacante
- 1700 giulio, Clement XI, Jubilee year
- 1700 testone, Innocent XII, Holy Year
- 1700 testone, Clement XI, Holy Year
- 1700 piastra
- 1700 piastra sede vacante
- 1700-I piastra
- Papal States (1712) 1/2 grosso KM-745
- Coins and currency dated 1700