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Pistole
| Issuer | Republic of Geneva |
|---|---|
| Year | 1758-1770 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 7.64 g |
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| Obverse description | Elaborately mantled and crowned arms of Geneva at center, divided per pale and bearing a demi-eagle and a key, set within ornate cartouche-style scrollwork. Above the shield, a radiant sun with the Christogram IHS (rendered IHΣ) in its center. The circular legend RESPUBL· GENEVEN· flanks the sides of the design, separated by the sun device above. The milled border frames the entire composition. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | RESPUBL· GENEVEN· IHΣ |
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| Additional information |
Geneva's pistole coinage was never a simple domestic convenience — the city-republic's monetary policy was perpetually entangled with French economic pressure, and gold emissions of this period reflect the magistrates' efforts to maintain an independent commercial currency acceptable to Geneva's extensive network of Protestant banking houses. The pistole denomination itself borrowed its name and approximate weight standard from the Spanish gold unit, a deliberate choice signaling international credibility rather than parochial utility.
The three HMZ varieties distinguished within this date range differ by minor die details and are rarely separated in trade.