Paolo Benatti Collection

Innocent XI (1676-1689) Plate An. II - Munt. 38 AG (g 31.91) RR The R/ depicts the facade of St. Peter's Basilica erected between 1607 and 1614 by Carlo Maderno under the pontificate of Paul V Borghese. Innocent XI was the animator of the Holy League that led to the liberation in 1683 of Vienna, besieged by the Turks. The Pope, setting in motion all papal diplomacy tried to promote a great League against the Muslim power, but he succeeded only in concluding a league between the Empire and Poland and in obtaining monetary contributions from the Italian states; the cardinals also quoted themselves for large sums and even made oblations of their personal silverware. Innocent XI also firmly fought the autonomist tendencies of the French clergy, so-called "Gallicanism," fomented by Louis XIV, which threatened to detach France from Rome. Extraordinary specimen, very rare in this preservation. In Nomisma auction 64 of 2021, lot 842, a specimen in similar quality realized € 5,000.00 + fees. From Varesi auction 15, Pavia April 3, 1992, lot 633. SPL+