Papal States 1572 quattrino
This specimen was lot 571 in Jean Elsen sale 132 (Brussels, March 2017), where it sold for €260 (about US$329 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, ETATS PONTIFICAUX, Siège vacant (1572), (Camerlengo Card. Luigi Corner), AR quattrino, 1572. D/ Armoiries du cardinal camerlingue. R/ Saint Pierre à mi-corps de f., ten. une Bible fermée. Très rare. Beau à Très Beau. (Italy, Pontifical State, sede vacante, silver quattrino of 1572. Obverse: arms of the camerlengo; reverse: half-length bust of St. Peter bearing a closed Bible. Very rare, fine to very fine.)"
The Jean Elsen catalog calls this piece silver; Berman notes it as billon, a more likely composition for this lowest of papal denominations which was later struck in copper. This and a quattrino from Fano are the only issues of this sede vacante.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: billon[2], this specimen 0,50 g.
Catalog reference: Munt. 4. Berman 1133.
- 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.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 132, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.
Link to:
- Papal States (1566-72) testone Ber-1092
- (1572-85) giulio, HANC ETRAM ET SVPER
- (1572-85) testone, Ancona mint, St. Peter standing
- (1582)-NS testone, SIC DECET IMPLERE
- (1575-81) testone, VENITE·AD·ME·OMNES·ET·EGO·REFICIAM·VOS
- (1572-78) testone, Ancona mint, St. Peter enthroned
- 1575 testone, Ancona mint, IVSTIS PATET
- (1575-85) testone, Ancona mint, SVSPICET ET VALEBIS
- Papal States (1572-85) scudo d'oro Fr-85
- (1585) quattrino, sede vacante, Ancona mint
- Coins and currency dated 1572
- return to coins of the Papal States