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1 Scudo d'Oro - Alexander VII
| Issuer | Papal States |
|---|---|
| Year | 1655-1667 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 3.5 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a bold, multi-line scriptural legend arranged within an octagonal cartouche occupying the entire field, with a small star device positioned above at twelve o'clock. The Latin inscription, drawn from the Epistle of James (1:5), is set in large capital letters across seven lines. The cartouche is framed by a decorative rope or cable inner border, itself enclosed within a beaded outer border consistent with the obverse. The composition is entirely typographic with no figurative imagery, reflecting the devotional character typical of Papal State scudi of this period. |
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| Mint | Rome Mint |
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| Additional information |
Alexander VII — born Fabio Chigi — came to the papacy in 1655 already a seasoned Vatican diplomat who had represented the Holy See at the Peace of Westphalia negotiations, a settlement he considered a humiliation to the Church and formally protested on its conclusion. His pontificate was financially strained almost immediately: the 1656 plague devastated Rome and the surrounding territories, and the Papal States bore significant relief costs. Gold scudi of his reign were struck at the Rome mint under conditions of recurring fiscal pressure rather than abundance.
The MIR references distinguish at least two die varieties across the reign, with subtle differences in the papal arms rendering.