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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 

“Golden Head” Pharmacy Imitation

350, Lot: 668. Estimate $150.
Sold for $90. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Venezia (Venice). 17th century. PB Theriac capsule lid (39mm, 17.58 g). Crude imitation of Venice’s Testa d’oro pharmacy. TERIACA F ALLA TEST DORO VENET, laureate bust right; large pellet before / Blank. Cf. U. Klein, “Theriak-Kapseln und kein Ende,” Festschrift Ilisch p. 288, 3c (for similar imitation of Trieste’s Alla testa d’oro pharmacy). Near VF, slightly bent, sides of lid broken off or flattened.


Theriaca (also known as ‘Venice triacle’) was an ancient medicinal compound – employed as a traditional medicine since the time of Mithridates VI of Pontus – used as an antidote against poisonous bites. Nero’s physician Andromachus, as well as the medical author Galen, discussed its medicinal value. Containing dozens of ingredients, including viper flesh, opium, cinnamon, agarics, and gum arabic, it was mixed with honey and wine to complete the compounding process. During the Middle Ages, theriac became a valuable article of commerce, with Venice, Padua, Milan, Genoa, Bologna, Constantinople, and Cairo all competing in its trade. Venice regulated the production and trade of theriac beginning in 1258, and by the 15th century controlled its distribution throughout Europe. About 40 pharmacy shops in Venice were officially allowed to produce and sell theriac.

See here for an excellent example of an official lid of the Golden Head pharmacy. The winged lion (badge of S. Marco and Venice) on that piece is here reduced to a simple pellet. Today, we would refer to theriac sealed with such crude lids as counterfeit goods, taking advantage of consumers’ trust in the Golden Head pharmacy name. We can only wonder what medicinal benefits the counterfeit theriac actually had.