Papal States (1734) 1/2 piastra
This specimen was lot 1556 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €360 (about US$472 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"PAPST CLEMENS XII., 1730-1740. Die Münzstätte Rom. ½ Piastra AN V (1734/1735), Rom. FRVSTRA / VIGILAT / QVI / CVSTODIT. Mit kleiner Schrift und dem Wappen des Presidente della zecca, Monsieur Nicolò Casoni, auf der Rückseite. Hübsche Patina, winz. Probierspur, vorzüglich. (Papal States, Clement XII, 1730-40, half piastra of the year 5, Rome mint, "FRVSTRA / VIGILAT / QVI / CVSTODIT", with small letterng and the arms of the mintmaster on the reverse. Handsome patina, some tool marks, extremely fine.)"
This date is listed in the SCWC for 1733-34. It is the most available mezza piastra of the eighteenth century. The mezza piastra was 52½ baiocchi, while the piastra, the Italian equivalent of the German thaler, was 105 baiocchi (3½ testone). The denomination was last minted in 1742 and superseded by the mezzo scudo in 1753.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16.03 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 14,53 g.
Catalog reference: Muntoni 21 Var. I; Toffanin 2494/3 (R), Ber-2618, KM 801.
- 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:
- 1733 testone, NE FORTE OFFENDICVLVM FIAT
- (1733) testone, arms obverse, POPVLIS IMMVNI EMPORIO DONATIS reverse
- (1733) mezza piastra, Clement XII, year IV
- (1734) giulio, ABVNDET IN GLORIAM DEI
- (1734) testone, arms obverse, POPVLIS IMMVNI EMPORIO DONATIS reverse
- 1734 testone, QVAERITE VT ABVNDETIS
- 1734 scudo d'oro, arms obverse
- 1735 scudo d'oro, bust obverse
- Coins and currency dated 1734
[[Category: Selections from Kunker sale 403, 404, 405, 406]