Neapolitan Piastra

The Neapolitan Piastra of 1799 bore symbols of the short-lived Parthenopean Republic, a stark shift from the usual royal busts that reflected Naples' turbulent politics.

This silver coin, minted from 1734 through 1860 under various Bourbon rulers, typically weighed about 27 grams and contained around 0.833 fineness silver. Designs varied by reign; Charles III's issues featured his portrait, while later ones under Ferdinand IV showed simpler motifs amid economic reforms. Struck at the Naples mint, some planchets might have been sourced from recycled foreign coins, though records are patchy.

We don't know exact mintages for most years, as 19th-century archives suffered losses. Variations in edge lettering or countermarks often indicated counterfeiting efforts during wars.

Collectors sometimes confuse it with Spanish pieces, given the family connections.