Papal States (1683) 1/2 piastra KM-431
This specimen was lot 1419 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €480 (about US$630 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"PAPST INNOCENZ XI., 1676-1689. Die Münzstätte Rom. ½ Piastra A VII (1682/1683), Rom. AVARVS / NON / IMPLEBITVR. Mit ovalem Wappenschild und Maske auf der Vorderseite, die Rückseite mit Kranz aus Palmzweigen. Min. Schrötlingsfehler am Rand, vorzüglich. (Papal States, Innocent XI, 1676-89, half piastra of the year 7, Rome mint. Obverse: oval arms and mask; reverse: wreath of palm branches. Edge defects, extremely fine.)"
The reverse motto, "Avarus non implebitur pecunia, et qui amat divitias fructum non capiet ex eis; et hoc ergo vanitas," comes from Ecclesiates 5:10: "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity." This is among the more common mezzi piastri; many varieties exist of this issue, including KM 429 with the motto in a cartouche and KM 430 with the motto between lion's heads. Wikipedia comments,
"Immediately upon his accession, Innocent XI turned all his efforts towards reducing the expenses of the Curia. He passed strict ordinances against nepotism among the cardinals. He lived very parsimoniously and exhorted the cardinals to do the same. In this manner he not only squared the annual deficit which at his accession had reached the sum of 170,000 scudi, but within a few years the papal income was even in excess of the expenditures."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 16.03 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 15,93 g.
Catalog reference: Muntoni 48; Toffanin 2021/5, Ber-2096, KM 431.
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
Link to:
- (1683) mezza piastra, AVARVS NON IMPLEBITVR in cartouche
- (1683) mezza piastra, AVARVS NON IMPLEBITVR between lion's heads
- 1684 giulio, year VIII, QVI DAT PAVPERI NON INDIGEBIT
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, cherub at top of cartouche
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, cartouche with laurel branches
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, "MELIVS" bracketed by scrolls
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, "EST DARE" bracketed by corners
- 1684 testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE, date on obverse
- (1684-86) testone, MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE
- 1684 piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year VIII, no bow
- (1684) piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year VIII, no bow
- (1684) piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year VIII, with bow
- 1684 piastra, DEXTERA TVA DOMINE PERCVSSIT INIMICVM, year IX, with bow
- (1692) mezza piastra, pelican feeding her chicks
- 1692 mezza piastra, Peace standing
- Coins and currency dated 1683