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Quattrino - Frederick II OLYMPOS, 3d period
| Issuer | Mantua, Duchy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1536-1540 |
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| Composition | Copper |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays the Greek word ΟΛΥΜΠΟΣ (Olympus), the personal impresa of Frederick II, set in two lines across the central field: ΟΛΥΜ on the upper line and ΠΟΣ on the lower. Two crossed leafy branches appear above the inscription as a decorative device, and a trefoil ornament is placed below. The coin is bordered by a beaded inner circle, and the overall design is bold and emblematic in character, reflecting the humanist tastes of the Gonzaga court. |
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| Additional information |
Frederick II's third period coinage from Mantua reflects the duke's consolidation of power following his elevation to Marquis — and then Duke — of Mantua by Charles V, a reward for Gonzaga military service during the Italian Wars. The quattrino was the workhorse of Mantuan petty commerce, struck in copper to serve transactions the silver coinage couldn't reach.
MIR 488 is among the more elusive of the Frederick II types; the OLYMPOS attribution to a specific die period was established through careful CNI compilation rather than any contemporary mint documentation.