Papal States 1754 1/2 scudo
This specimen was lot 1584 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €260 (about US$341 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Benedikt XIV. 1740-1758. 1/2 Scudo romano AN XIV/1754, Rom. Stempelschneider Ottone Hamerani. Mit Wappen des Presidente della zecca, Monsieur Francesco D'Elci auf der Rückseite. Kl. Schrötlingsfehler, sonst vorzüglich. (Papal States, Benedict XIV, 1740-58, half scudo Romano of the year 14, 1754, Rome mint, with the arms of the mintmaster on the reverse. Small planchet defects, otherwise extremely fine.)"
This type was also struck in 1753 (year 14). It is the only issue of this denomination by this ruler but is not noted as rare. It was during this pontificate that the piastra was superseded by the silver scudo.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.25 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 13.26 g.
Catalog reference: Muntoni 49; Toffanin 2612/2, Ber-2741, KM 1179.
- 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.
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