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4 Zecchini - Manuel Pinto de Fonseca
| Issuer | Order of Malta (Knights of St. John) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1741-1773 |
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| Currency | Scudo (1530-1825) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | F.EMMANVEL PINTO M.M. |
| Reverse description | Central ornate quartered shield of the Order of St. John, displaying the characteristic white cross of Jerusalem alongside the Hospitallers' crescent motifs, all within an elaborately scrolled and foliate cartouche. The shield is surmounted by a large ornamental crown with radiating arches. The divided legend SEP . HIER . / HOSPI . ET . S . is arranged around the shield within the field, and a milled border frames the entire composition. |
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| Additional information |
Manuel Pinto de Fonseca held the Grand Mastership of the Order of Malta longer than any other in the eighteenth century — over three decades, from 1741 until his death in 1773. A Portuguese nobleman of considerable political skill, he steered the Order through a period when its military purpose was increasingly difficult to justify to European powers, yet managed to extract substantial financial concessions from both Rome and Versailles. The 4 Zecchini denomination served the Order's international transactions and diplomatic gift-giving more than everyday commerce.
The .986 fineness places these among the purest gold coinages of any sovereign issuer of the period — finer than the Venetian ducat that inspired the zecchino format.