Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 947 Numistats ref: 673436
No match
World
Category
MALTA, Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Jean de Valette. Grandmaster, 1557-1568. AR 4 Tarì (32mm, 10.85 g, 7h). Fort St. Angelo (Birgu) mint. Coat-of-arms / St. John the Baptist standing facing, holding long cross; to right, agnus Dei standing right, head left. Gatt 06-4T-38X26; Restelli & Sammut 9-10; Schembri 3. Richly toned, flan cracks, scratches. Near EF. Rare.
Ex J. Eric Engstrom Collection.
Jean Parisot de Valette, after whom the capital of the Knights of Malta was named, served the Order both on Rhodes, when he was a young man, and was the 6th Grandmaster of the Knights of Malta. He was a man of considerable military skill and daring. From his appointment in 1537 as Governor of Tripoli to his time as a galley slave to the Barbary pirates, Valette demonstrated his abilities and, in 1557, was appointed Captain General of the Order’s galleys, a prestigious post. In this office, he earned a reputation as one of the great Christian commanders of the age. Described as a “very handsome man, speaking several languages fluently including Italian, Spanish, Greek, Arabic and Turkish,” Vallette’s reign was spent in almost continuous warfare with the Ottomans. During the Great Siege of Malta (1565), he ordered the defense of the city, holding out successfully against the Ottomans (including the Janissaries) until relief arrived. This victory increased the renown of the Order in Europe (thereby gaining new recruits), but Vallette refused to accept a cardinalship from the Pope, preferring to retain the Order’s sovereignty. The following year, Vallette began the construction of his new capital on the site of the former Fort St. Elmo. He died, however, before the work was completed. Description
Ex J. Eric Engstrom Collection.
Jean Parisot de Valette, after whom the capital of the Knights of Malta was named, served the Order both on Rhodes, when he was a young man, and was the 6th Grandmaster of the Knights of Malta. He was a man of considerable military skill and daring. From his appointment in 1537 as Governor of Tripoli to his time as a galley slave to the Barbary pirates, Valette demonstrated his abilities and, in 1557, was appointed Captain General of the Order’s galleys, a prestigious post. In this office, he earned a reputation as one of the great Christian commanders of the age. Described as a “very handsome man, speaking several languages fluently including Italian, Spanish, Greek, Arabic and Turkish,” Vallette’s reign was spent in almost continuous warfare with the Ottomans. During the Great Siege of Malta (1565), he ordered the defense of the city, holding out successfully against the Ottomans (including the Janissaries) until relief arrived. This victory increased the renown of the Order in Europe (thereby gaining new recruits), but Vallette refused to accept a cardinalship from the Pope, preferring to retain the Order’s sovereignty. The following year, Vallette began the construction of his new capital on the site of the former Fort St. Elmo. He died, however, before the work was completed. Description
Near EF
Grade
862.88 EUR
Starting
1438.13 EUR
Estimate
EUR
Realized