Nomos AG
Auction 25 20 Nov 2022
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ITALY. Papal States. Clement XII (Lorenzo Corsini), 1730-1740. Testone (Silver, 30 mm, 8.49 g, 12 h), Rome, Anno VI = 1735. CLEMENS · XII · PONT · M · AN · VI Tiara and crossed keys over shield bearing the Pope's arms. Rev. DABIS / DISCERNERE / INTER · MALVM / ET · BONVM ( = You will be able to distinguish between good and bad) in four lines within wreath. Berman 2623. Muntoni 26. Lustrous and sharp. Overstruck and with some adjustment marks, otherwise, good extremely fine.
From the Dr. Pelc Dens Sapientiae Collection.
The aged and sickly Florentine, Lorenzo Corsini, then 78, was elected Pope Clement XII as a compromise candidate in 1730 (everyone just naturally assumed he would soon die and they could have another election). Needless to say, he surprised everyone by living until he was 87! He was a decent man who re-organized papal finances on a sound basis (he reinstated the public lottery, which had been closed down by the hyper-moral Benedict XIII); and, among many other things: bought the Albani Collection for the papal gallery, fixed roads, began the Fontana di Trevi, and rebuilt part of the port of Ancona. Despite having gone blind and being an invalid, he remained lucid till his death.
From the Dr. Pelc Dens Sapientiae Collection.
The aged and sickly Florentine, Lorenzo Corsini, then 78, was elected Pope Clement XII as a compromise candidate in 1730 (everyone just naturally assumed he would soon die and they could have another election). Needless to say, he surprised everyone by living until he was 87! He was a decent man who re-organized papal finances on a sound basis (he reinstated the public lottery, which had been closed down by the hyper-moral Benedict XIII); and, among many other things: bought the Albani Collection for the papal gallery, fixed roads, began the Fontana di Trevi, and rebuilt part of the port of Ancona. Despite having gone blind and being an invalid, he remained lucid till his death.