Charles Emmanuel II became Duke of Savoy at age four in 1638, and for the first decade of his reign real power resided entirely with his mother, Christine of France, who governed as regent against the fierce opposition of the prince's own uncles. The doppia issues of 1653–1655 fall in the transitional years immediately following Christine's death in 1663 — no, rather, these coins predate it, placing them squarely within the late regency period when Christine still dominated Savoyard fiscal and political affairs.
The doppia, equivalent to two scudi d'oro, was the principal gold denomination of the Italian states throughout the seventeenth century. Turin's mint output during these years was constrained by ongoing financial strain from French entanglements and the costs of Christine's court.
Wait, I need to fact-check myself. Christine of France died in 1663, and Charles Emmanuel II took personal control around 1648. These coins (1653–1655) fall after he had already assumed personal rule. Let me rewrite without the error.
Charles Emmanuel II assumed personal rule of Savoy around 1648 following his mother Christine's regency, making the 1653–1655 doppia issues among his earliest autonomous gold coinage. The Turin mint during this period operated under considerable financial pressure — Savoy's chronic position as a buffer state between France and the Spanish Milanese meant military expenditure rarely relented.
MIR 803 distinguishes at least two die variants within this short emission
Charles Emmanuel II became Duke of Savoy at age four in 1638, and for the first decade of his reign real power resided entirely with his mother, Christine of France, who governed as regent against the fierce opposition of the prince's own uncles. The doppia issues of 1653–1655 fall in the transitional years immediately following Christine's death in 1663 — no, rather, these coins predate it, placing them squarely within the late regency period when Christine still dominated Savoyard fiscal and political affairs.
The doppia, equivalent to two scudi d'oro, was the principal gold denomination of the Italian states throughout the seventeenth century. Turin's mint output during these years was constrained by ongoing financial strain from French entanglements and the costs of Christine's court.
Wait, I need to fact-check myself. Christine of France died in 1663, and Charles Emmanuel II took personal control around 1648. These coins (1653–1655) fall after he had already assumed personal rule. Let me rewrite without the error.Charles Emmanuel II assumed personal rule of Savoy around 1648 following his mother Christine's regency, making the 1653–1655 doppia issues among his earliest autonomous gold coinage. The Turin mint during this period operated under considerable financial pressure — Savoy's chronic position as a buffer state between France and the Spanish Milanese meant military expenditure rarely relented.
MIR 803 distinguishes at least two die variants within this short emission