Bruce-1, 2, 3a, 4a, 5 & 6b. Fantasy coinage struck at an unknown Belgian mint for Pope Pius IXs refuge at Gaeta. Early in the pontiffs tenure growing Italian nationalist violence forced him to leave Rome and establish a seat at the coastal city of Gaeta where he remained until 1849. The set contains denominations of 2 Baiocchi up to Zecchino and aside from the two lowest denominations all are struck in off-metals than what would normally seen. The 10 and 20 Baiocchi are struck in silver plated copper where the silvering remains complete, both have received cleaning designations although based on some returning toning any cleaning was done a ways in the past. The Scudo is struck in silvered brass which is obvious with about half of the silvering retreating toward the device edges, nevertheless quite flashing and lustrous. Lastly the Zecchino is struck in white metal and has also received a cleaning designation from some light hairlines left in the fields of the soft metal. All pieces are quite sharp and well struck and the bronze pieces in particular are well preserved with considerable mint orange luster beaming around the devices with glossy lightly blue hued fields. A set seldom seen or offered in complete form..PCGS Genuine AU Details-Cleaning to MS-64+ RB Secure Holder.Ex: Stacks New York International Sale January 10, 2011, Lot #777.
