Malta (1557-68) 4 tari

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Sincona sale 4, lot 5128
CNG sale Triton XXVII, lot 1190

The first specimen was lot 5128 in Sincona sale 4 (Zurich, October 2011), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,

"MALTA Johanniterorden auf Rhodos und Malta Jean de la Valette, 1557-1568. 4 Tari o. J. Vierfeldiges Wappen. Rv. Kopf des hl. Johannes auf ovalem Tablett. Vorzüglich. (Order of Malta, Jean de la Valette, 1557-68, four tari (no date). Obverse: quartered arms; reverse: head of John the Baptist on a platter. Extremely fine.)"

The rather gruesome image of the head of the prophet on a platter appears on a number of Maltese coins of the early modern period. Severed heads were likely a familiar sight in Malta in the 1550's as the island endured a long siege from Turkish attackers. Grand master Jean de la Valette's heroic efforts in fending off the besiegers led to the main town being renamed for him, Valetta. Ferdinand von Hompesch was the last grand master of the knights of Malta before the Order was evicted from the island by Napoleon. The British in turn evicted the French but never returned the island to the Order, retaining it as a colony until 1964. The Order today runs charity hospitals in Europe and is headquartered in Rome. Thirty tari made a piastra or tallero. The second specimen was lot 1190 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $4,375. The catalog description[2] noted, "MALTA, Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Jean de Valette. Grandmaster, 1557-1568. AR 4 Tarì. Fort St. Angelo (Birgu) mint. Coat-of-arms / St. John the Baptist standing facing, holding long cross; to right, lamb standing right, head left. Richly toned, flan cracks, scratches. Near EF. Rare. From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, the first specimen 11,66 g. the second specimen is 32 mm diameter, 10.85 g, 7 h axis.

Catalog reference: R.S. 22 var. The second specimen is Gatt 06-4T-38X26; Restelli & Sammut 9-10; Schembri 3.

Source:

  • [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes: Auction 4, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2011.
  • [2]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.

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