Papal States 1699 testone

Goldberg sale 109, lot 2711

This specimen was lot 2711 in Goldberg sale 109 (Los Angeles, January 2019), where it sold for $1,020. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Italian States: Papal/Roman States. Testone, 1699. Anno IX. Innocent XII. Pristine with lovely golden and olive-green toning. NGC graded MS-65." Berman lists ten different testone for this pope. 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, "PRÆOCCVPEMVS/FACIEM EIVS", means "We await His coming".

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9.16 g, silver, 0.917 fine.

Catalog reference: Berman-2248, KM unlisted, Munt-44 (Rare).

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.
• ^[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:

• 1696 testone, ROGATE·EA QVAE·AD·PACEM SVNT, curved inscription
• 1696 testone, ROGATE EA QVAE AD PACEM SVNT, straight inscription
• 1698 mezzo grosso, DA PAVPERI
• 1698 testone, "IPSE·EST· PAX·NOSTRA·"
• 1699 grosso, PORTA AVREA
• 1699 giulio, PECCATA ELEEMOSYNIS REDIME
• 1699 mezza piastra, Innocent XII
• 1699 piastra, reduction of the tax on flour
• 1699 piastra, restoration of the harbor at Anzio
• 1700 giulio, sede vacante
• Coins and currency dated 1699
• return to coins of the Papal States