© Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 35,
© Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 35,
1 Piastra - Urbano VIII VIVIT DEVS - St. Michael fighting Lucifer
1643 year| Silver | 32 g | 42 mm |
| Issuer | Papal States |
|---|---|
| Pope | Urban VIII (Urbanus VIII) (1623-1644) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1643 |
| Value | 1 Piastra (1.05) |
| Currency | Scudo (1534-1835) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 32 g |
| Diameter | 42 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#228008 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 93% |
Reverse
St. Michael the Archangel fighting Lucifer
Script: Latin
Lettering: VIVIT DEVS
Engraver: Gaspare Molo
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 1643 Papal States 1 Piastra coin featuring St. Michael fighting Lucifer is that it was minted during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, who was known for his controversial policies and lavish spending. Despite the coin's religious imagery, Urban VIII's papacy was marked by conflicts with the Catholic Church and the Roman Empire, and he was even accused of using the papal treasury to fund his own luxurious lifestyle. This coin, with its depiction of St. Michael fighting Lucifer, can be seen as a symbol of the Pope's efforts to assert his authority and defend the Church against its enemies.
