Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 479 21 Oct 2020
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MALTA, Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Jean de Valette. Grandmaster, 1557-1568. Æ 4 Tarì (31mm, 12.70 g). Fort St. Angelo (Birgu) mint. [Dated 1567]. Maltese cross / [Clasped hands]. Countermarks: Crowned double-headed eagle in shield (Uncertain date); head of St. John the Baptist in oval (Edict of 19 April 1662); crowned lis (Edict of 17 AUGUST 1696); MA monogram (Edict of 30 May 1766); crowned diamond (Edict of 10 January 1778); paschal lamb in beaded oval (Edict of 29 October 1792). Cf. Gatt 06-4T-350X350; cf. Restelli & Sammut 104; cf. Schembri 1. For countermarks: Gatt p. xix. Brown patina. Fair. Countermarks better.
From the El Medina Collection.
During the late 17th and 18th centuries, the Knights of Malta faced a serious problem with counterfeiting of their copper coinage. The administration attempted to alleviate this issue by continually re-validating the coins most counterfeited - the two and four tari pieces - by applying countermarks.
From the El Medina Collection.
During the late 17th and 18th centuries, the Knights of Malta faced a serious problem with counterfeiting of their copper coinage. The administration attempted to alleviate this issue by continually re-validating the coins most counterfeited - the two and four tari pieces - by applying countermarks.