4 Tari Countermarked

Countermarks employed by Order to validate copper coinage


1) Double-headed eagle within a circular impression (approximate diameter of 6-7 mm).
Countermark of Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar (1636-1657).
Countermark authorized by decrees of 1646, May 17th and 1646, May 28th.
 
2) Double-headed eagle within a shield impression (5 mm x 6.5 mm).
Countermark of Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar (1636-1657).
Countermark authorized by decrees of 1646, May 17th and 1646, May 28th.
 
3) Head of St. John the Baptist within an oval impression (approximate 4.5 mm x 7 mm).
Countermark of Raphael Cotoner (1660-1663).
Countermark authorized by decree of 1662, April 19th.

4) Crowned fleur-de-lys within an irregular impression (approximate 4.5 mm x 7.5 mm).
Countermark of Adrien Wignacourt (1690-1697).
Countermark authorized by decree of 1696, August 27th.

5) Crowned star within an irregular impression (approximate 10 mm x 7 mm).
Countermark of Raymond Despuig (1736-1741).
Countermark authorized decree of 1740, December 13th.

6) Crowned crescent within an irregular impression (approximate 6 mm x 10 mm).
Countermark of Emmanuel Pinto (1741-1773).
Countermark authorized by decree of 1741, January 31st.

7) MA monogram within an irregular impression (approximate 6.5 mm x 7 mm).
Countermark Emmanuel Pinto (1741-1773).
Countermark authorized by decree 1766, May 30th.

8) Crowned diamond within an irregular impression (approximate 5 mm x 7 mm).
Countermark of Emmanuel de Rohan (1775-1797).
Countermark authorized by decrees of 1777, June 19th and 1778, January 10th.

9) Paschal lamb with banner of the Order within an octangular impression (approximate 6 mm x 6.75 mm).
Countermark of Emmanuel de Rohan (1775-1797).
Countermark authorized by decrees of 1792, July 17th and 1792, October 29th.

 

• It appears that countermarks #1 and #2 are merely distinctive varieties of the countermarking authorized in 1646. Also, the countermark #2 seems to be the more uncommon of the two varieties. Countermark #2 only appears on coins issued before Lascaris, for example of De La Valette or Verdala. Countermark #1 is only used for Lascaris coins.
   
• The countermark #5 is reported to be the most uncommon of all the countermarks. This is attributed to the death of Despuig within months of the authorization of his reign's countermarking.
   
• Schembri Pridmore and other early sources erroneously attributed the countermark #9 to the reign of Grand Master Raymond Perellos (1697-1720). Sammut's work has definitively attributed this countermark to Rohan's reign.
   

Examples of 1, 3, 4, 5 (obscured), 7, 8, 9:

The listed year-lines and references are for the latest countermark on the coin.