Milan (1520) testone

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Sincona sale 83, lot 4520

This specimen was lot 4520 in Sincona sale 83 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 2,400 CHF (about US$3,212 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"Francesco I d'Angoulème, re di Francia e duca di Milano, 1515-1522. Testone o. J. (um 1520), Milano. 7.89 g. Sitzender Heiliger Ambrosius, in der Linken den Bischofsstab. . FR~' D ' G ' FR - ANCOR~' R~ . Rv. Gekröntes vierfeldiges Wappen. In der Umschrift ein Ambrosiusköpfchen im Oval und ' MEDIOLANI ' DVX ' ET C~ . MIR (Milano) 261. Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Randfehler (Francis d'Angoulème, king of France and duke of Milan, 1515-22, undated testone, circa 1520, Milan mint. Obverse: seated St. Ambrose, bishop's staff in his left hand; reverse: crowned quartered arms, with St. Ambrose's head at the top of the legend. Very rare, Very fine-extremely fine, Edge flaws).

Exemplar aus F. R. Künker GmbH, Osnabrück, Auktion 217, Lot 2719. Obwohl das Sujet des thronenden Heiligen Ambrosiuns von vorne bereits zur Zeit der 1. Republik (1250-1310) auf Münzen erscheint, finden wir diese auf Testoni erstmals bei Francesco I. Möglicherweise war diese Vorderseite Vorlage für Testoni verschiedener italienischer und auch schweizerischer Münzherren, welche in der Folge einen anderen Heiligen in dieser Art als Rückseitenbild verwendeten. (This specimen is from F. R. Künker GmbH, Osnabrück, auction 217, lot 2719. Although the subject of the enthroned Saint Ambrose from the front appears on coins as early as the First Republic (1250-1310), we find this on testons for the first time with Francis I. Possibly this obverse was the template for testone of various Italian and Swiss mints, who subsequently used another saint in this way as the reverse image.)"

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, this specimen is 8.68 g.

Catalog reference: MIR (Piemonte) 681.

Source:

  • [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.

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