Milan (1466-76) 1/2 teston
This specimen was lot 3003 in Sincona sale 57 (Zürich, May 2019), where it sold for 400 CHF (about US$476 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY | Milan, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, 1466-1476. Mezzo testone o. J. Selten. Sehr schön. (duchy of Milan, Galeazzo Maria Sforza, 1466-1476, undated half testone. Rare, Very fine.)"
This type was struck by Galeazzo Maria Sforza prior to the French occupation of Milan. The French invasion of Italy was the beginning of the end of the Renaissance as the devastation of the resulting war terminated Italian prosperity. The teston, a half dollar size coin, was the first large coin issued as Italy emerged from the Middle Ages and the increased volume of trade demanded larger coins. In the sixteenth century, the German thaler, struck on a press, would supersede the teston.
Recorded mintage: Unknown.
Specification: silver, rhis specimen 4.91 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 202/3.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 57: World Coins and Medals, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
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