Papal States 1707 testone

Goldberg sale 109, lot 2715

This specimen was lot 2715 in Goldberg sale 109 (Los Angeles, January 2019), where it sold for $1,260. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Italian States: Papal/Roman States. Testone, 1707. Anno VII. Clement XI. Sharply struck pristine example. Rare. NGC graded MS-65+." Berman lists fifteen different testone for this pope; Berman-2403 has the reverse motto "QVI/MISERETVR/PAVPERI/BEATVS ERIT" ("Blessed are those who take pity on the poor"). It was struck during years V thru VIIII. The testone was thirty baiocchi, while the piastra, the Italian equivalent of the German thaler, was 105 baiocchi (3½ testone).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9.16 g, silver, 0.917 fine.

Catalog reference: Berman-2403, Munt-76, KM unlisted (cf. KM 694).

Source:

• 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]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.

Link to:

• (1706) testone, DIGNIS VICTORIAM, Clement XI
• (1707) mezza piastra, Tobias and angel
• (1707) piastra, FIAT PAX IN VIRTVTE TVA
• 1707 piastra
• 1708 testone, "QVI/MISERETVR/PAVPERI/BEATVS ERIT"
• Coins and currency dated 1707
• return to coins of the Papal States