Urbino (1538-74) paolo

Jean Elsen sale 149, lot 1798

Urbino in 1494, from Shepherd's atlas

This specimen was lot 1798 in Jean Elsen sale 149 (Brussels, December 2021), where it sold for €180 (about US$244 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"ITALIE, URBINO, Guidobaldo II della Rovere (1538-1574), AR paolo, s.d., Pesaro. D/ Ecu couronné dans un quadrilobe, entre G-D-V. R/ Saint Jean et saint Jacques deb. de f. PISAV à l'ex. Légère faiblesse de frappe. Belle patine. Très Beau. (Italy, duchy of Urbino, Guidobaldo II della Rovere, 1538-74, undated silver paolo, Pesaro mint. Obverse: crowned arms in a quadrilobe between "G-D-V"' reverse: St. John and St. James stand facing, "PISAV" in the exergue. Slightly weakly struck, nice patina, Very Fine.)"

This paolo seems to be equal to the papal giulio or one-tenth of a piastra. The collapse of the authority of the pope in the Papal States in the late middle ages allowed many petty lordships to spring up, including Urbino near San Marino, long ruled by the Montefeltre family. The last Montefeltre duke was dispossessed by Cesare Borgia in 1502 and the duchy passed to the della Rovere family. The della Rovere ruled Urbino under papal suzerainty until the extinction of the family in 1626.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, this specimen 3,17 g.

Catalog reference: Cavicchi 87.

Sources:

• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 149: Monnaies, Médailles et Décorations, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2021.

Link to:

• Urbino (1538-74) armellino
• Urbino (1538-74) ducat Fr-1203
• Coins and currency dated 1538