Pope URBANUS VIII (Barberini) 1623-1644

[Rugser]

Silver-mixture mm19

D/ VRBANVS  VIII P. MAX
R/ St. Michael Archangel demolishes the Demon.

The reverse is interesting because for the first time I see the Demon represented on a coin.

ser  

[Follibus Fanaticus]

Dear Sir:

You have indeed seen a demon.  I think the coin is a Muntoni Number 195, described as "S. Michele scaccia Lucifero."  So your coin shows the Archangel and the greatest demon of them all.  The coin is a quattrino.

Urban VIII issues much better demons.  On the huge silver "piastra" you will get a much better look at "Lucifero" and "Sancto Michele," too. Muntoni No. 34, another piastra -- which is about 20 percent heavier than a U.S. silver dolar -- shows our hero besting no less than four demons.

Follibus Fanaticus