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1 Zecchino - Hugues Loubenx de Verdala
| Issuer | Order of Malta (Knights Hospitaller) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1582-1595 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | Christ in Majesty (Christ nimbate), depicted bust-length or full-figure within an almond-shaped mandorla glory, in the Byzantine-influenced tradition common to Hospitaller zecchini. The mandorla is flanked by nine stars in total, arranged with five stars to the right and four stars to the left of the central motif, symmetrically disposed in the field. The encircling legend, in Latin, bears the devotional inscription invoking divine strength against enemies, a formula consistently employed on Maltese zecchini of this period. |
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| Reverse lettering | DA MICHI VIRTVTE(M) CONTRA HOSTES (Translation: Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos: Give me the strength against thy enemies.) |
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| Additional information |
Hugues Loubenx de Verdala was elected Grand Master in 1582 largely through French diplomatic pressure, and his tenure saw the Order navigate increasingly complex relations with both Rome and the Ottoman Empire following the failed siege of 1565. The zecchino format adopted under his rule closely mirrored the Venetian ducat — deliberately so, as the Order depended on pan-European merchant recognition for its coinage to function across Mediterranean trade networks.
The .999 fineness held to a standard the Order maintained scrupulously, guarding the coin's credibility at a time when debasement was endemic across Italian states. Verdala was elevated to Cardinal in 1587 by Sixtus V, an unusual distinction for a sitting Grand Master.