2 Zecchini - Manuel Pinto de Fonseca

Manuel Pinto de Fonseca held the Grand Mastership of the Order of St. John longer than almost any other holder of that office — over three decades, from 1741 until his death in 1773, which accounts for the wide date range on issues bearing his name. The Order maintained full monetary autonomy on Malta throughout his tenure, striking gold at exceptional fineness for both circulation and diplomatic gift-giving. The 2 Zecchini, double the single-scudo zecchino, was the prestige denomination of the series.

Pinto de Fonseca was Portuguese by birth, a fact that occasionally complicated his relations with the papacy.