Ferrara (1505) testone
This specimen was lot 990 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $4,900. The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY, Ferrara (Duchy). Alfonso I d'Este. 1505-1534. AR Quarto – Testone. First emission, struck 1505. Armored bust left, without beard / Romanesque Samson seated left on curule chair, holding lion head from which a swarm of bees flies forth; stump entwined by serpent to left. Richly toned. Good VF. Rare. From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection. Ex Nomisma S.p.a. 54 (30 August 2016), lot 985.
The reverse of this intriguing type alludes to the Riddle of Samson found in the Book of Judges: ‘Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.’ On the road to Timnah Samson was attacked by a young lion which he tore apart with his bare hands. Later, on returning to Timnah to take a Philistine bride, Samson discovered a swarm of bees had made a honeycomb in the carcass of the lion. Samson poses the riddle at his wedding feast confounding his Philistine hosts. A satisfactory reading of why this Biblical enigma should have been chosen for the reverse of this type has yet to be made."
Later testone of this ruler show him with a beard.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29 mm diameter, 9.35 g, 12h axis.
Catalog reference: Belessia 4/C; MIR 270.
- [1]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.
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