Milan (1500-13) teston

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Heritage sale 3024, lot 24979
photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries
from the Stack's Bowers 2019 NYINC sale, lot 41134
Milan SB119-41134r.jpg

The first specimen was lot 24979 in Heritage sale 3024 (Chicago, April 2013), where it sold for $1,938.75. The catalog description[1] noted, "Milan. Louis XII of France Teston ND (1500-13), VF25 NGC, nice even details with pewter gray patina, a classic Renaissance Teston." The second specimen was lot 41134 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2019), where it sold for $2,160. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY. Milan. Teston, ND (1499-1500). Louis XII of France (1500-13). NGC EF-45. cf. Crippa-3/A; MIR-236/1; Dupl-723. Wholly impressive for this elusive Renaissance issue with smooth fields, impeccable sharpness through the designs and alluring tone that is gray purple in the open fields with a sublime greenish gray hue around the raised surfaces. Truly an exceptional piece overall, fully deserving of attention from collectors of this fascinating Italian epoch. From the Collection of Dr. James Eustace Bizzell, II." This type was struck by the French during their 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.

Catalog reference: CNI-V-40, Crippa 3A (R2).

Source:

  • [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3024, featuring the Kairos and Elizabeth McPhall Charters Collections, Dallas: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
  • [2]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, Matt Orsini and Cris Chatigny, The January 2019 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2018.

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