Papal States 1685 testone KM-470

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Heritage sale 3037, lot 30236
Papal St H3037-30236r.jpg
Goldberg sale 109, lot 2702
Papal St G109-2702r.jpg
Heritage sale 3073, lot 31443
photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries
Künker sale 403, lot 1429

The first specimen was lot 30236 in Heritage sale 3037 (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $1,762.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Papal States. Innocent IX Testone 1685 MS67 NGC. A spectacular gem, fully-struck and with dramatic gold and turquoise highlights within the protected areas. The design elements are fascinating and incredibly intricate, especially on the papal arms. Quite possibly the finest example of this type, and at present, the highest certified specimen by three grades." The second specimen was lot 2702 in Goldberg sale 109 (Los Angeles, January 2019), where it sold for $1,170. The catalog description[2] noted, "Italian States: Papal/Roman States. Testone, 1685. Anno IX. Innocent XI. Well struck with old cabinet toning. NGC graded MS-65." The third specimen was lot 31443 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $1,110. The catalog description[3] noted, "Papal States. Innocent IX Testone 1685 MS66 NGC. A sublime example, fully-struck with icy white centers and golden-red highlights at the peripheries. Intricately engraved and boldly rendered, a premium gem and certainly one of the finest known." The fourth specimen was lot 1429 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €675 (about US$886 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[4] noted,

"PAPST INNOCENZ XI., 1676-1689. Die Münzstätte Rom. Testone A IX/1685, Rom. Mit Lorbeerkranz auf der Rückseite. Muntoni 91; Toffanin 2035/24 (R). Vorzüglich. (Papal States, Innocent XI, 1676-89, testone of the year 9, 1685, Rome mint. Laurel wreath on the reverse. Extremely fine.)"

This type was minted in 1685 for Innocent XI. The SCWC lists six different testone for 1685, varying in the design of the cartouche on the reverse. 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. The fourth specimen is 9,15 g.

Catalog reference: the first specimen Ber-2102, KM-470; the second and fourth specimen Berman-2104; Munt-90; the third specimen Ber-2105.

Source:

  • Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
  • Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
  • Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
  • [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
  • [2]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.
  • [3]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
  • [4]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.

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