I have an example dated 1693! Was going to post it, but you beat me to it! Yours is in better shape than mine though! Lovely coin.
ST. MAGNUS & St. BRUNO Italy PAPAL STATES Alexander VIII Testone Year 2 (1690) St. Magnus of Fussen was a missionary saint in southern Germany, also known as the Apostle of the Allgäu. He is believed to have been a contemporary either of St. Gall (died 627) or of St. Boniface (died 754) and is venerated as the founder of St. Mang's Abbey, Füssen. There is almost no reliable information about him. The only source is an old "Vita S. Magni", which however contains so many obvious anachronisms that little reliance can be placed on it. He is the patron saint of the Allgäu, Füssen, and Kempten; and is invoked for the protection of cattle; and against eye diseases, snakebite, worms, rats, mice and field insects. St. Bruno of Cologne (c.1030-1101), a leading philosopher and theologian, was the head of the Episcopal School at Reims for 20 years. Refusing an offer to become Bishop of Reims, he withdrew to become a hermit, eventually founding what became the Carthusian Order in Chartreuse, near Grenoble. In 1090 he was called to Rome to become adviser to Urban VIII, a former pupil. He later refused the archbishopric of Reggio Calabria to return to the hermit life. Alexander VIII (Giovannangelo de Medici) was elected Pope on 6 October, the saint's day of both Magnus and Bruno. The engraver of this coin is Giovanni Hameranus.
A new addition for me. Halberstadt Bishopric Taler Obverse: Helmeted monastery coat of arms Reverse: St. Stephen is between the year. Engraver: Chrisoph Ziegenhorn Zepernick 131
ST. APOLLINARIS Italy PAPAL STATES - RAVENNA Pope Leo X Mezzo Giulio n.d (1516-17) St. Apollinaris, a native of Antioch in the Roman Province of Syria, was the first Bishop of Ravenna (late 2nd century ?). He faced nearly constant persecution. He and his flock were finally exiled from Ravenna . According to tradition, on his way out of the city he was identified, arrested as being the leader, tortured and martyred by being run through with a sword.
At least they made a beautifull coin in his honour Lucca AV Ducato ND struck 1396-98 obv: St. Vultus rev: St. Martin
Really beautiful coin, with very sophisticated portrait for 14th century. The Renaissance obviously arrived early in Lucca. Always good to have two saints on your side rather than just one !
ST. HILARY/ ILARIUS ( A lousy portrait, I am afraid, especially after St. Vultus of Lucca) Italy PARMA Ranuccio I Farnese Giulio n.d.(1602-08) St. Ilario,or Hilary (c.315-368) was born in Poitiers in a pagan family but became a Christian in his thirties and was elected bishop of Poitiers. A leading theologian, he was a strong opponent of the Arian heresy (called the Hammer of the Arians) and was forced to spend some years in exile in Phrygia (Turkey). According to tradition, returning through Parma in winter wearing worn out shoes, a cobbler took pity on him and gave him a new pair of shoes. The morning after, to his surprise, the old shoes left by Ilario had been replaced by a pair of shining new shoes made of gold. He has been patron saint of Parma since mediaeval times.
ST. ANTONY Italy PIACENZA Odoardo Farnese 10 Soldi (Buttalà) n.d. (1622-46) St. Antony was said to have been martyred at Piacenza or Travo, in the Persecution of the Christians by Emperor Diocletian (303 A.D.). Sabinus, Bishop of Piacenza (c.333-420) established his sanctuary, following a rediscovery of the relics, and he is the patron saint of Piacenza. A later tradition made him a member of the legendary Theban Legion, a Roman legion from Egypt—"6666 men"— who converted en masse to Christianity and were martyred together in 286, according to the hagiographies of St. Maurice, their leader.
Haven't posted for a bit, so a quarter angel of Elizabeth I with mintmark crescent over scallop. St. Michael spearing the dragon. Not a thing of great beauty, but excessively rare. This is much commoner with 5 known. A Henry VII angel with mintmark anchor, inverted on the obverse. Same subject matter. This obverse die is noteworthy in that it marks the point where the spearhead changed from a ball ended cross to a crosslet ended cross, but is neither one nor the other. Probably struck on a small flan as it is only 0.06g deficient, or if clipped, then it was grossly overweight prior to this. The obverse die is badly rusted. And another angel, but this time of Charles I and it has been pierced for use as a touchpiece. The mintmark is bell, dating it to the period 27th June 1634 to 18th June 1635. The reverse die is marked bell over portcullis over harp reflecting the use of dies from previous periods if they were good enough, suitably overmarked for the current period. Only 25000 angels were struck in total for all marks combined during his reign.
Another St. Rupertus from Salzburg. AV Quarter Dukat 1707 Salzburg Mint Johann Ernst von Thun & Hohenstein 1667-1709 Picked up this beauty(FDC) from Nomisma after sale (unsold lot) for 600 E
A few more Edward the Confessor issues to complement the Pointed Helmet penny of Langport posted earlier in the thread. A PACX issue of Guildford. Cracked across 75% of the flan and distinctly not flat, but the only known example of this issue from this rare mint. A Trefoil/Quadrilateral of Winchcombe, again the only known example and a rarer mint than the previous one. A Small Flan issue of Frome. 2 or 3 known, but only just over a dozen coins in total for all issues from this extremely rare mint. A Sovereign/Eagles of Bedford with a rather crudely executed obverse die. A Hammer Cross issue of Steyning. Common due to a hoard of these having been found. An finally, a Pyramids issue from Chichester with the typically soft obverse seen for this issue from the mint.
St. Edmund memorial penny 1876 Melbourne sovereign with a George and Dragon reverse 1893 1/2 sovereign 1929 South African Sovereign 1819 crown with LIX and no stops edge reading