Malta Order of St. John Gold 20 Scudi 1764 of Emmanuel Pinto.
Grand Master Emmanuel Pinto (1741-7773)
Gold 20 Scudi, Milled 1764
Ref: F 35; Rest 25; Schemb 1
Details: Extremely Fine, well struck; 28 mm , 0.01574 kg
Obv: Crowned conjoined shields of St. John and Pinto lamb at his feet;
Rev: St. John standing holding banner, pascal
Very good example of this Maltese coin of the order of ‘Knights of St. John’ - well struck and exhibiting next to no wear.
Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca (1 741-73) of Portuguese ‘langue’ was not very popular and during his reign, he made many enemies. He created new titles of nobility which was greatly resented by the old nobles of the island and imposed unjust taxes on the people. He offended the clergy by the expulsion of the Jesuits from Malta and, curred the hatred of the older Knights who had long waited for him to die and succeed him. However, he loved the city of Valletta. The Auberge de Castille, the sateliest and one of the most important buildings in the town, started during the rule of de la Cassiere in 1574, was finished under his Magistracy and his bust and arms adom its fasade He enriched the Conventual Church and built a number of stores at the Marina which still bear his name. When Pinto died his body was laid in one of the most beautiful monuments of St John’s which has a striking portrait in mosaic. The coat of arms of the Pinto family portrays five red crescents, said to symbolize that Manuel Pinto da Fonseca once defeated five Ottoman Turks single-handedly. The city of Qormi adopted these arms, with the tinctures reversed, for its own coat of arms and flag.
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