The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-30
HISTORY IN COINS
A sERrEs THAT EXTENDS OVER \
 THOUSAND YEARS.
Adris, | the First Pope to Coin Money, Leo XIII the Last--Coin that Hecen- tly Completed the Vatican
 Collection.

iubilee gifts was the unique gold coin of Pope Innocent K, which. recently {. exhumed at Acqui, Italy. was contend [ ed for by coin collectors. King victor Emmanuel being one of the unsuccess- rul competitors.
 This coin the only one in existence of the reign of Innocent TX. was need ed to make the Vatican collection of Papal coins complete.
 The Papal coins exhibit the portraits of many of the Popes and thtir coats of arms and furnish metallic history of the coinage of the Church from the first issue in the latter part or the eighth century down to 1870. when the Papal States were annexed to Italy and the Papal mint ceased operations.
 The Papal series of coins is one of the very longest. covering l,lsS years The first Pope to issue coins was Adrian l. The coins of Europe were then largely in imitation of those of the Byzantine Empire, whose gold byzants were generally used throughout the Continent, and the coin of Pope Adrian was q fair example of the coinage of the times. It showed a full face DOT trait. presumably of St Peter on the obverse. surrounded by the inscription 'Hadrianus P. P" and the cross on the reverse. very much after the style of the Byzantine pieces.
 Many of the early issues of the Popes show the name of the reigning Pope and representation of either St Peter or St. Paul Perhaps no series of coins shows a greater varity of design or more skilful execution. The Church, always a patron of the arts employed the foremost artists of the time. and some of the coins are from the hands such men as Ceiiini and Francia.
 A gold scudo of Julius II, the design of which is credited to Francis shows A finely engraved portrait of the Pope. with the inscription Julius Pontifex Maxmus." A coin of Alexander VII, attributed to Paolo, shows on the re- verse the crossed keys and crown, per- haps one of the first of the Papal coins to bear the device. The coins of the Popes were struck in many places. insiuding Rome. Bologno Avignon, Perugia, Terni, San Severino and Gaeta. One Aof the Interesting pieces of the Roman mint was silver ducat of Clement VII This piece ir- regular in shape. was struck in 1527, when Rome was in state of siege. On the obverse are shown the arms and title of Pope Clement. with the word sspucato" enclosed by wreath on the reverse. To this same Pope Is credited a jubilee five scquins piece in gold. struck in 1925. It is not unlikely that fhe latter piece was engraved by Cellini
 The most remarkable Papal coin is- sued at Bologna was the sequin of 1923 which shows the usual Papal emblems and q full length portrait of St Peter. It was the earliest of the Apostolic coins to be mInted at that city and specimen brought s26 at a recent sale The first Papal silver scudo was struck at Bologna during the reign of Pope Gregory XIII.
 Included among the regular Papai coins are those of the interregnal per- iods, known as the 'Sede Vaeante" ser- les, or coins struck during the time the papal throne was unoccupied. Thers are many varities of these pieces, some of them extremely scarce.
 very interesting "Sede Vacante" scudo shows that before the accession of Plus K, in 1846. an interregnal is- sue of silver of considerable volume was contemplated. This piece was dat ed 1S46 and bore the legend "Sede Va eante." with the arms of the senior Cardinal Riario Sforza, who had the sole authority to issue coins during the period, The same Cardinal issued gold piece during the interval be- tween the death of Gregory XVI and the election of Plus TX. This piece was called doppia and had an intrinsic value of $3.32. A full length figure of St Peter was shown on the Cardinals coat of arms, with crossed keys and Cardinals hat. with the words "Sede vacantc."
 silver scudo of 1S46 of this Cardi- nal showed the Grand Cross of the Ic- zion of Honor suspended from the shield. It would seem that the Cardi- nal lost no time in assuming these pieces for the interregnum lasted but few days. Pope Gregory dying on June l and Pope Plus being elected on June 16 These were the last "Sede Vacante" pieces to be struck al the PapaI mint.
 While many of the varities of the coinage of the States of the Church are still obtainable at reasonable prices, certain specimens are of great rarity. Gold, silver and copper pieces were the metals ordinarily used. and the pieces struck in gold are the rarest. Very rare pieces are the gold sequins of Plus II. specimens of which have slid for $375. Many specimens of the Papal coinage are valued at $I00 and more.
 Though Papal coins for general cir culation were not struck after 1870. yet pattern silver piece of the demo- imitation of five lire was struck as late as 1878. This piece is said to have been issued to show that coins could be struck under authority. of the Pope. It bore the portrait of Leo XIII on the obverse. with his arms on the reverse and was dated 1878. Not many of these pieces seem to have been coined. An 'uncirculated specimen recently sold for ts. '
 FAD-RIDDEN AMERICA.