Papal States 1706 1/2 piastra

Heritage sale 3089, lot 33026

This specimen was lot 33026 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Italy. Papal States. Clement XI 1/2 Piastra Anno VI (1706) AU53 PCGS, Rome mint. Not a type which occurs with much regularity on the market, and one which virtually never occurs with such minimal circulation wear as the present piece, a fact indicated by only one finer in the PCGS census, none certifying Mint State. Additionally graced with a fanciful reverse scene of immense detail." The piastra was the Italian equivalent of the German thaler and was superseded by the scudo after 1740. The mezza piastra was a seldom used denomination.

Wikipedia comments, "The Porto di Ripetta was a port in the city of Rome. It was situated on the banks of the River Tiber and was designed and built in 1704 by the Italian Baroque architect Alessandro Specchi. Located in front of the church of San Girolamo degli Schiavoni, its low walls with steps descended in sweeping scenographic curves from the street to the river. The port no longer exists but is known from engraved views, drawings and early photographs."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.21 g, 0.917 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM 682, Munt-55, Ber-2390.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
• ^[1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.

Links to:

• (1692) mezza piastra, pelican feeding her chicks
• 1705 mezza piastra, city view of Urbino
• 1705 piastra
• (1706) testone
• (1706) piastra, Clement XI
• (1708) mezza piastra, Clement XI, year VIII and VIIII
• Coins and currency dated 1706