½ carolus - Nicolas de Gilley

Reverse

A shield bearing the arms of Gilley, surmounted by a cross that cuts through the legend.

Script: Latin

Lettering: NIL VLTRA ARAS ⠅1553 ⠅

Comment

Imitation of Charles V's demi-carolus (see link below).

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

Imitation des demi-carolus de Charles Quint (voir lien ci-dessous).

Interesting fact

The ½ carolus coin from the Barony of Franquemont (Basel) is interesting because it was minted during a time of great religious and political upheaval in Europe, particularly in the Holy Roman Empire. The coin's minting period, 1553-1557, coincides with the reign of Charles V, who was the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. This was a time of Protestant Reformation and religious conflicts, as well as political tensions between the Empire and the Papacy. The coin's design, which features an image of Saint Basil, may have been a symbol of the Catholic Church's influence in the region. Additionally, the use of billon, a copper and silver alloy, was a common practice during this time period, as it was a more affordable alternative to pure silver or gold coins.

• early modern