Genoa (1490-94) lira
The first 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 second specimen was lot 42537 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $439.20. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY. Genoa. Testone, ND (1490-94). Genoa Mint. Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza. PCGS VF-30. Despite a fair degree of wear, this example retains all design facets and offers complete legends across both sides. From the John P. Burnham Collection." The three stars around the cross mark the value of one testone; the half testone had two stars and the quarter testone had one. Varieties exist in the position of the stars. The Sforza arms, a serpent swallowing a child, writhe over the stylized castle on the obverse. The Milanese occupied Genoa 1463-78 and 1488-99. 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: 13.2 g, silver, 29 mm diameter, the first 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.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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