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1 Ducat Siege coinage
| Issuer | Pavia (Italian States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1524 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Octagonal (8-sided) |
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| Obverse description | Within a beaded inner circle, the two-letter monogram 'AL' in large raised capitals occupies the central field, with the date '1524' inscribed below in two numerals on either side. A small Maltese cross appears in the upper field above the inner circle, serving as the sole decorative element. The entire design is contained within the octagonal flan typical of emergency siege coinage, struck crudely by hand. The lettering is bold and deeply impressed, consistent with the urgent utilitarian nature of the issue. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a largely plain field with faint incuse impressions visible, likely the result of the obverse die bleeding through the thin hammered flan during striking. A partial legend or maker's mark appears weakly struck within a beaded circle, but no deliberate design was intended for this face. The surface shows the characteristic rough texture of hastily produced siege coinage, with the octagonal shape of the flan clearly defined by the cut edges. |
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| Additional information |
Pavia was besieged by French forces under Francis I beginning in late 1524, and the city's emergency coinage was struck to pay defenders and maintain internal commerce when normal supply lines collapsed. The Battle of Pavia in February 1525 ended with the catastrophic French defeat and the capture of Francis I himself — one of the most consequential military reversals of the Italian Wars. This ducat belongs to that siege window, produced under conditions of extreme political and military pressure by imperial and Sforza-aligned forces holding the city.
The unusually large diameter relative to the weight suggests metal was being stretched, a common expedient in siege minting.