Classical Numismatics Discussion - Members' Coin Gallery
  Welcome Guest. Please login or register. Share Your Collection With Your Friends And With The World!!! A FREE Service Provided By Forum Ancient Coins No Limit To The Number Of Coins You Can Add - More Is Better!!! Is Your Coin The Best Of Type? Add It And Compete For The Title Have You Visited An Ancient Site - Please Share Your Photos!!! Use The Members' Coin Gallery As A Reference To Identify Your Coins Please Visit Our Shop And Find A Coin To Add To Your Gallery Today!!!

Member Collections | Members' Gallery Home | Login | Album list | Last uploads | Last comments | Most viewed | Top rated | My Favorites | Search
Home > Members' Coin Collection Galleries > stlnats

Interesting Papal Coins of the Baroque


innoc_xii_M_28.jpg

I'm using this gallery to present a few of my favorite late 17th Century coins. For me, the period covering the last three popes of the century - Innocent XI, Alexander VII and Innocent XII - was the apex of the minter's art. Some of the greatest designers and mintmasters lived during this period and there's a delightful range of varieties and subjects to reward the observant collector. Just a personal statement and definitely a work in progress.

4 files, last one added on Apr 07, 2013
Album viewed 1 times

Papal/Vatican City Holy Year Medals


1825_annuale.jpg

6 files, last one added on Dec 31, 2013
Album viewed 1 times

Papal: Innocent XI Testoni


am_87_combo.jpg

Some of the most interesting coins of the Baroque period were issued under Innocent XI, who reformed the coinage in July, 1684. He standardized the designs of many of the coins and none is a better example than the testoni issued from 1684 to his death in 1689. All had the same basic design: papal coat of arms on the obverse, and the legend Melius Est Dare Quam Accipere ('tis better to give than to receive) on the reverse. Within these basic parameters the die cutters had amazing latitude in executing their designs, and Muntoni's La Monete Dei Papo e Degli Stati Pontifici lists no less than 90 unique varieties that were issued during these 5 years. Occassionally an obverse or reverse was "muled" with more than one opposite design. And, while there is some variation in the rendering of Innocent's coat of arms, the most noticable difference is the wonderful variation of reverse decoration, distinguished by the use of seraphs, plaques of various shapes, ribbons, ornamental wreaths of various types, a double hexagon, and on and on. Also, every date from 1684 through 1689 appears on at least one variety, although a few have no date at all.

31 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2020
Album viewed 7 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

Last additions - stlnats's Gallery
am_87_combo.jpg
Muntoni 87Undated.

An interesting piece since a cursory exam suggests that the die used to produce this coin was modified by he addition of the tiny obverse date resulting in M86.
stlnatsAug 02, 2020
am_86_combo.jpg
Muntoni 861684 on the obverse. No regnal date.

Another of the handful of testones dated at the top of the obverse. Seller's rather nice photo.

This appears to be linked to M87 since it appears that the date was added to the existing die.
stlnatsAug 01, 2020
am_90a_combo.jpg
Muntoni 90 duplicate1685, regnal year 9

An accidental duplicate purchase, but the angled view of the arms on the obverse has always been one of my favorite designs. Similar condition and I'm not sure which I like better so it's just "twice as nice."
stlnatsJun 17, 2014
1825_annuale.jpg
1825Modesti Annuale 293.

A "stock" reverse type featuring Pope Leo entering the opened Holy Door. This medal is a "twofor" in that it not only commemorates the 1825 Jubilee Year, but is also the annual medal for year II/1825.
stlnatsDec 31, 2013
am_82_combo.jpg
Muntoni 821684, no regnal datestlnatsDec 02, 2013
am116_combo.jpg
Muntoni 1161689, regnal yr 13stlnatsDec 02, 2013
am_107_combo.jpg
Muntoni 1071686, regnal yr 10stlnatsMay 29, 2013
innoc_xii_M_28.jpg
4 Innocent XII 1699 Half Piastre M 28An amazingly frank portrait of this elderly and ailing pope who died the next year. The reverse features Noah's ark landing on Mt Ararat with water gushing out from below as it makes landfall. The reverse translates " His place is made in peace" and is an abbreviation of Ps 75:5.1 commentsstlnatsApr 07, 2013
alex_m_16_testone.jpg
2 Alexander VII 1690 Testone M16A coin of this type was one of my first papal acquisitions and hooked me on this interesting series. The oxen on the reverse exude power and one can almost see their muscles move as they pull the plow along. The reverse legend translates "restored supply of grain." stlnatsApr 07, 2013
innoc_xii_m_34.jpg
3 Innocent XII 1693 Half Piastre M 34An interesting half piastre featuring a pelican as a symbol of self sacrifice. Early church fathers believed the blood on the bird was result of the pelican pecking her own breast to feed her young, as shown on the reverse. Combined with the inspirational legend "not for self, but for others" this was an obvious reference to Christ as model for believers to follow. Lovely and powerful sentiment, but unfortunately the blood is actually the result of captured fish which the pelican had broken up to feed to her chicks. Still, powerful imagery and a great example of the minters art at the end of the 17th century. stlnatsApr 07, 2013
M_53_half_p.jpg
1 Innocent XI undated Half Piastre M53An interesting obverse type featuring a completely unsymmetrical 3/4 view of the pope's arms. The lion and eagle are remarkably lifelike, quite unusual for elements of coats of arms, and both appear to be ready to leave the coin. The eagle seems particularly interested in testing his wings, perhaps having noticed the lion is watching him with a lean and hungry look.

The reverse translates to "to the greedy it shall not be given." A number of the reformed coins of this pope featured legends encouraging charity.
stlnatsApr 07, 2013
am__72_combo.jpg
Muntoni 721684, regnal yr 8stlnatsApr 06, 2013

Random files - stlnats's Gallery
am_82_combo.jpg
Muntoni 821684, no regnal datestlnats
am_71_combo.jpg
Muntoni 711684, regnal year 8stlnats
am_80_combo.jpg
Muntoni 801684, no regnal datestlnats

All coins are guaranteed for eternity
Forum Ancient Coins
PO BOX 1316
MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557


252-497-2724
customerservice@forumancientcoins.com
Facebook   Instagram   Pintrest   Twitter