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1 Testone - Innocent XI MELIVS EST DARE QVAM ACCIPERE
| Issuer | Papal States |
|---|---|
| Year | 1685 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Teston (0.30) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by the pontifical coat of arms of Pope Innocent XI (Benedetto Odescalchi), depicting a shield quartered with an eagle in chief and a rampant lion below, set within an ornate baroque cartouche. The shield is surmounted by the papal tiara and flanked by the crossed keys of Saint Peter. The encircling Latin legend, separated by quatrefoil stops, reads INNOCEN·XI·PONT·M·A·IX·, identifying the pontiff by name, title, and regnal year. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Reeded |
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| Additional information |
Innocent XI — born Benedetto Odescalchi — was elected in 1676 after a conclave that lasted five weeks, the cardinals reportedly deadlocked over French pressure to block him. He proved difficult for Louis XIV throughout his pontificate, refusing to extend the Gallican liberties and eventually coming close to open schism with Versailles. His personal austerity was genuine: he cut papal court expenditures sharply and redirected funds toward the Holy League campaign against the Ottomans, which culminated in the relief of Vienna in 1683.
The motto on this testone — "it is better to give than to receive" — was adopted as his personal device and appeared across multiple denominations of his coinage, an unusually consistent programmatic choice for a papal mint.