Catalog
| Issuer | Macerata (Papal States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1334-1342 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | 1 Obol (1 Obolo) (1⁄48) |
| Currency | Groschen (1188-1534) |
| Composition | Billon (.08406 silver) |
| Weight | 0.54 g |
| Diameter | 16 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | MIR#194, Munt#2, Berman#179 |
| Obverse description | T V S on field around a dot. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering |
✠ PP BENEDIC (Translation: Pontiff of Pontiffs Benedict) |
| Reverse description | Cross |
| Reverse script | Latin |
| Reverse lettering |
✠ •DVODECIMO• (Translation: Twelfth) |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (1334-1342) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 3206658430 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: The 1 Picciolo of Benedict XII, struck in Macerata (1334-1342), emerges from the Avignon Papacy. Pope Benedict XII (Jacques Fournier) was known for austerity and reform. With Popes residing in Avignon, administration of the Italian Papal States was complex. Macerata, a key city in the March of Ancona, issued these small billon coins for local commerce, underscoring the era's decentralized control and economic necessities.
Artistry: The Picciolo's design, typical of medieval Italian low-denomination coinage, prioritizes legibility given the small 16mm flan and billon composition. While specific engravers are unrecorded, the stylistic school is functional and stylized. Common Papal States motifs include a central cross on one side, often surrounded by the Pope’s name or partial legend. The reverse features a simplified papal emblem, like the keys of St. Peter or the papal tiara, rendered abstractly due to limited space.
Technical/Grading: As a low-silver billon coin (.08406), the 1 Picciolo frequently exhibits wear, corrosion, and irregular planchets. High-points for preservation are central design elements, such as the cross intersection or prominent emblem features. Due to the small module and 14th-century manual striking, strikes are often off-center, weakly impressed, and show uneven metal flow. This results in partial legends or obscured devices. Clear central motifs and discernible legends are desirable, despite inherent production limitations.