Milan (1481-94) teston
The first specimen was lot 13238 in Ponterio sale 177 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $1,292. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Milan. Teston, ND (1481-94). Giovanni Galeazzo Maria e Ludovico Maria Sforza (1481-94). Toned. NGC EF-40. From the Demarete Collection." The second specimen was lot 6049 in Künker sale 354 (Osnabrück, Germany, September 2021), where it sold for €1,400 (about US$1,948 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"ITALIEN, MAILAND, Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza und Ludovico Maria Sforza, 1480-1494. Testone o. J. Sehr attraktives Exemplar mit hübscher Patina, fast vorzüglich. (Italy, duchy of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza and Ludovico Maria Sforza, 1480-94, undated testone. Very attractive example with handsome patina, about extremely fine.)"
The third specimen was lot 72682 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $576. The catalog description[3] noted, "ITALY. Milan. Testone, ND (1481-92). Milan Mint. Gian Galeazzo Sforza, with Ludovico Maria Sforza as regent. PCGS VF-35. Obverse: Armored bust of Giovanni Galeazzo right; Reverse: Crowned helmets left and right, each with dragon crest; all above coat-of-arms. Deeply toned and evenly handled, this example serves as a great representative from a fairly difficult emission." This type was struck by the Sforzas just 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. Soon after, the German thaler, struck on a press, would supersede the teston.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the second specimen 9.59 g.
Catalog reference: the first specimen CNI-V, pg.189#25; Biaggi-1569. The second specimen Crippa 4. The third specimen Biaggi-1570.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 177: The August 2013 Chicago ANA Auction, World Coins, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2013.
- [2]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Künker Auktion 354: Munzen und Medaillen aus Mittelalter und Neuzeit u. a. Braunschweig-Luneburg. Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2021.
- [3]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
Link to:
- (1476-81) teston, regency of Bona of Savoy
- Milan (1481-92) grosso Gian Galeazzo Sforza
- Milan (1481) 2 ducats Fr-693
- Savoy (1482-90) teston
- Milan (1494-99) teston
- Coins and currency dated 1481
- return to coins of Italy, Milan