Papal States 1702 1/2 piastra
This specimen was lot 56812 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Papal States. 1/2 Piastra, 1702 Year II. Clement XI. PCGS Genuine--Repaired, Fine Details. From an Old Brooklyn Collection." 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 The denomination was last minted in 1742 and superseded by the mezzo scudo in 1753. Wikipedia comments,
"Saint Crescentinus (Italian: San Crescentino, Crescenziano) (died June 1, 303) is the patron saint of Urbino whose feast day is celebrated on June 1. Venerated as a warrior saint, he is sometimes depicted on horseback, killing a dragon, in the same manner as Saint George."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16.03 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Ber-2391, KM-663.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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