Genoa (1490-94) lira
This specimen was lot 1006 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $1,470. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY, Genova. Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan. Signore, 1488-1494. AR Lira – Testone da 20 soldi. Struck from 1490. City gate flanked by two stars; all within polylobe with annulets at cusps; above, serpent coiled left / Short cross pattée with stars in second, third, and fourth quarters, all within polylobe with annulets at cusps. MP at end of legend. Lightly toned. Good VF. From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection." The Milanese briefly occupied Genoa at the end of the fifteenth century. Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza died in 1494 at the age of 25, allegedly poisoned at the orders of his uncle. The Milanese were chased out of Genoa in 1499 by the French.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29 mm diameter, 13.13 g, 3 h axis.
Catalog reference: MIR 137; MEC 12, 360 var. (legend).
- [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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