Charles Emmanuel I spent nearly his entire reign at war — against France, Spain, and Geneva in various combinations — and his monetary output reflects the administrative chaos that entailed. Billon small change like this half gros was struck across multiple Piedmontese facilities with inconsistent alloy control, which is why surviving examples vary noticeably in surface color and metal quality. The MIR 674 attribution covers a wide production window, and die workmanship deteriorates markedly toward the later end of the reign.
Charles Emmanuel I spent nearly his entire reign at war — against France, Spain, and Geneva in various combinations — and his monetary output reflects the administrative chaos that entailed. Billon small change like this half gros was struck across multiple Piedmontese facilities with inconsistent alloy control, which is why surviving examples vary noticeably in surface color and metal quality. The MIR 674 attribution covers a wide production window, and die workmanship deteriorates markedly toward the later end of the reign.