Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 1876. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $825. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papal Coinage. Clement VII (Robert dei Conti del Genevois). Antipope, 1378-1394. AR Grosso (2.60 g, 12h). Avignon mint. CLE(ME)S · · P P : SEPTHS (annulet and double annulet stops), Clement seated facing, raising hand in benediction and holding cruciform scepter; lions to lower left and right / + · SANCTVS · PETRVS · (crossed keys and double annulet stops), crossed keys. Poey d’Avant 4198; Muntoni 6; Berman 232. VF, lightly toned. Rare.

From the Leonard O. Greenfield Collection.

The first of two Avignese claimants to the papacy, Clement VII was among the French delegation which repudiated the newly-elected pope Urban VI. The papacy having been centered in Avignon during most of the 14th century, the Papal Schism which ensued lasted nearly another 40 years, unofficially continuing Avignon’s role within the Catholic church.