Desana (1516-29) testone
This specimen was lot 4517 in Sincona sale 83 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 3,000 CHF (about US$4,015 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Pietro Berard, 1516-1529. Testone o. J. (erstes Viertel des 16. Jahrhunderts), Desana. Einköpfiger Adler nach links. ^ P ^ B ^ D ^ F ^ COMES ^ DECANE ^ (Krone) . Rv. Stehender Heiliger mit Nimbus in Rüstung von vorne, in der Rechten einen Fahnenwimpel, in der Linken ein Schwert haltend. ^ SANCTVS ^ MAVRICIVS ^ . (Die A auf den Umschriften ohne Querbalken.) Sehr selten. Vorzüglich. Minimaler Randfehler (Pietro Berard, 1516-1529, undated testone from the first quarter of the sixteenth century. Obverse: single headed eagle to left; reverse: standing saint with halo, armored and holding a pennant and a sword. The "A's" are without crossbars. Very rare, Extremely fine, Minimal edge flaw). Exemplar aus F. R. Künker GmbH, Osnabrück, Auktion 254, Lot 2257. Beischlag zum Testone von Michele Antonio Saluzzo aus der Münzstätte Carmagnola."
Today Desana is an insignificant village in the Piedmont region of Italy, population 1,085 as of 2004. It was a semi-independent enclave in the duchy of Savoy, ruled by the Tizzoni 1411-1693. A mint was opened in 1510 to strike imitations of coins of neighboring states.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 9.44 g.
Catalog reference: MIR (Piemonte) 454.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
Link to:
- Desana (1510-25) testone, Ludovico II Tizzone
- Desana (1515-16) testone, Francesco Mareuil
- Desana (1525-33) testone, Giovanni Bartolomeo Tizzone
- Coins and currency dated 1516