Papal States 1823-B 2 giulio
The first specimen was lot 1129 in Jean Elsen sale 138 (Brussels, September 2018), where it sold for €230 (about US$319 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIE, ETATS PONTIFICAUX, Siège vacant (1823), (Camerlengo Card. Bartolomeo Pacca), AR doppio giulio (1/5 scudo), 1823B, Bologne. D/ Armoiries. R/ L'Eglise siégeant sur une nuée. Rare Fines griffes. Nettoyé. Très Beau à Superbe. (Papal States, sede vacante, silver double giulio of 1823, Bologna mint. Obverse: arms; reverse: the Church seated on a cloud. Rare, fine scratches, cleaned, very fine to extremely fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 34366 in Heritage sale 3082 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $930. The catalog description[2] noted, "Italy: Papal States. Sede Vacante 2 Giulio (Doppio) 1823-B MS65 NGC, Rome mint. Of clear conditional rarity for the type, and attractive for the issue, the surfaces dressed in steel-blue tone with soft tangerine accents on the obverse." The third specimen was lot 1653 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €2,200 (about US$2,887 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[3] noted,
"SEDISVAKANZ 1823. Die Münzstätte Bologna. 1/5 Scudo (Doppio Giulio) 1823 B, Bologna. Mit Blätterrand. Selten in dieser Erhaltung. Prachtexemplar. Leichte Justierspuren, Stempelglanz. (Papal States, sede vacante, one fifth scudo or double giulio of 1823, Bologna mint. With leafy edge, scarce in this quality, cabinet example, lightly adjusted, uncirculated.)"
The interregnum between the death of Pius VII and the election of Leo XII lasted less than a month. The coinage issued in this period included a gold doppia, a silver scudo, half scudo and this double giulio. Altho scarce, it is the most available denomination. The early coinage of the Papal States used an antique monetary system. Five quattrini = one baiocco; 5 baiocchi = 1 grosso; 6 grossi = 4 carlini = 3 paoli = 1 testone; 10 testone = 1 doppia; 100 baiocchi = 1 scudo. After 1832, all the medieval coins were dropped except for the baiocco and the scudo. This denomination was replaced by a twenty baiocchi. In 1866, the currency was reformed to use centesimi and lire in order to match that of the surrounding kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the Papal States were occupied and annexed by the kingdom of Italy and coinage ceased until 1929.
Recorded mintage: 5,642.
Specification: 5.28 g, 0.917 fine silver, the third specimen 5,33 g.
Catalog reference: Pagani 114; Toffanin 3069/1 (R), KM 1823, Mont-152, Munt. 6; Ber-3250.
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- Gigante, Fabio, Gigante 2016: Catalogo Nazionale delle Monete Italiano Dal '700 All'Euro, 24a ed. Varese, Italy, 2015.
- Montenegro, Eupremio, Montenegro 2015: Manuale del Collezionista di Monete Italiane, 30 ed., Torino, Italy: Montenegro s.a.s., 2014.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 138, Collection A. BLONDEL, Collection M. HENDRICKX, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2018.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Online Auction 3082, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- [3]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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