Meepzorp's Ancient Coins


Medieval Italy


Torriglia


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Note #1: Torriglia coins have tremendous personal significance to me. First, they were minted in the town of Torriglia. My
paternal grandfather was born and raised in the village of Fontanigorda. My paternal grandmother was born here in the
USA. Her parents (my great grandparents) were from the village of Loco di Rovegno. Torriglia, Fontanigorda, and
Loco di Rovegno are part of a cluster of small towns and villages up in the mountains outside of Genoa, Italy.
They are located in the Trebbia River Valley, in the Liguria/Piemonte region of Italy. For many centuries,
Torriglia was considered a sort of "county seat". Administration buildings are located there, etc. If someone
lived in Fontanigorda, he would have to travel to Torriglia to take care of any official business.

Note #2: Second, these coins were issued by Violante Doria Lomellini. Several years ago, I researched my ancestry.
I combined that knowledge with information that was provided to me by my relatives, some of whom, to this day,
still live in the Genoa, Italy area. I know that Doge Giacomo Lomellini of Genoa was one of my ancestors. I am
one of his descendants. Violante Lomellini was his granddaughter. She married Andrea III Doria, who was
a descendant of Admiral Andrea Doria. It was probably an arranged marriage, to preserve nobility. I am
somewhat/reasonably certain that I am a descendant of that marriage, but I am not 100% certain. If I can
confirm this, then that would mean that Violante Lomellini and Andrea III Doria were my ancestors. It would
also mean that I am a direct descendant of Violante Lomellini, the woman who issued these coins.

Note #3: Violante Lomellini was the mother of Giovanni Andrea III Doria.




Italy, Torriglia (Liguria), Violante Doria Lomellini, wife of Andrea III Doria, mother of Giovanni
Andrea III Doria, regent, 1654-1671, AR Luigino, dated 1665, 21 mm, 2.16g
DON VI LO PRINCI S VED DO,
female bust (Violante Doria Lomellini?)/
* DOMINVS VIRTVS * MEA E SALVS MEA, 1665, crowned
coat (shield) of arms, containing 2 lilies, eagle, and pellet
CNI III, 7, MIR (Varesi) II, 569,
Cammarano 383, Very Rare (R2)
Posted January 2019


Note #1: Torriglia coins typically range in rarity from Scarce (NC) to Extremely Rare (R5).
On the reverse of the less rare issues, there is a crowned coat (shield) of arms containing
3 lilies and a object that has been described as a crest, a comb, or a Medieval horse
accessory. On the reverse of this rarer issue, there is a crowned coat (shield) of arms
containing 2 lilies and an eagle. The crest/comb/Medieval horse accessory is deleted.

Note #2: An eagle is a symbol of the Doria family of Genoa.








Italy, Torriglia (Liguria), Violante Doria Lomellini, wife of Andrea III Doria, mother of
Giovanni Andrea III Doria, regent, 1654-1671, AR Luigino, dated 1668
PVLCRA VIRTVTIS IMAGO,
female bust (Violante Doria Lomellini?)/
flower BONITATIS VNCIARVM QVINQVE, crowned coat (shield)
of arms, containing 3 lilies and a crest (or comb?), 1668
CNI III --- (vgl. 12), MIR (Varesi) II --- (vgl. 571/4),
Cammarano 388 var. (or 388a?), Extremely Rare (R3)
Posted February 2017


Note #1: This issue has a reverse that depicts a crowned coat (shield) of arms, which
contains 3 lilies. Above the lilies, there is an object. Some references books
describe that object as a crest, but other reference books describe it as a comb.
I have also seen it described as a Medieval horse accessory.

Note #2: It seems that this reverse legend variation was unpublished until recently.