★ A very attractive zecchino of Jean de Valette ★

MALTA. Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta). Jean de Valette. Grandmaster, 1557-1568. Zecchino (Gold, 21 mm, 3.40 g, 6 h). F IOANNES DE VALLETE St. John standing right, presenting banner to the Grand Master kneeling left; MI (Magister Ioannes) and quatrefoil near the banner staff. Rev. DA MICHI VIRTVT COTRA HOSTES TVO Christ, nimbate, standing facing in mandorla with nine stars, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Restelli/Sammut p. 41, 4. Schembri p. 42, 3. A lightly toned and attractive example of this important issue. Good very fine.

From the collection of Dr. Max Blaschegg (1930-2021, with collector’s ticket), received as a Christmas present in 1981 and ex Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 36, winter 1981/2, 347.