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Quadruple Gold Ecu - Clement VIII Octave of Acquaviva Legate
| Issuer | Comtat Venaissin |
|---|---|
| Year | 1596 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 13.18 g |
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| Obverse description | A detailed panoramic cityscape of Avignon occupies the central field, depicting the walled city with its towers, spires, and fortifications rising above the waters of the Rhône River rendered in stylized waves below. In the upper portion of the field, the papal arms of Clement VIII — a shield surmounted by the papal tiara and crossed keys — are prominently displayed. The circular legend surrounds the design along the beaded border, with the word AVENIO appearing in the lower exergual area. |
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Comtat Venaissin was a papal enclave in southern France — entirely surrounded by French territory yet governed from Rome — and its coinage reflected that awkward duality. This piece was struck under Cardinal Ottavio Acquaviva d'Aragona during his legation, a posting that carried full temporal authority over the Comtat on behalf of Clement VIII. Acquaviva's tenure coincided with the final, tense years of the French Wars of Religion and Henry IV's controversial conversion in 1593, events that made the enclave's loyalty to Rome both politically conspicuous and administratively important.
The quadruple denomination at this weight places it among the heaviest gold issues from any French feudal jurisdiction of the period.