Milan (1535-56) testone
The first specimen was lot 1214 in Sincona sale 76 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 7,000 CHF (about US$8,497 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY | Milan. Carlo V. 1535-1556. Testone o. J. Milano. Schaumünze auf die Huldigung Karls V. durch den Senat von Mailand. Stempel von Leone Leoni. ° IMP ° CAES ° - ° CAROLVS ° V ° AVG Geharnischtes und belorbeertes Brustbild nach rechts. Rv. ° S ° P ° Q ° MEDIOL ° OPTIMO ° PRINCIPI ° Pietas mit Opferschale in der Rechten sitzt nach links, umher Trophäen, im Abschnitt PIETAS. Sehr selten. Vorzüglich. NGC AU Details. Schönes Renaissance-Portrait. Kleine Kratzer im Revers. (Italy, duchy of Milan, Charles V, 1535-56, undated testone, Milan mint. Dies by Leone Leoni. Obverse: armored and bearded bust right; reverse: Piety, seated facing left, offers a wreath over a pile of arms. Very rare, Extremely fine, Excellent Renaissance portrait, Small scratches on reverse.)"
The second specimen was lot 2672 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, "ITALY | Milan, Carlo V. 1535-1556. Testone o. J. Very rare. Good very fine. Minor flan flaw on edge." Francesco II Sforza, duke of Milan, died childless in 1535, leaving the ducal throne vacant. The emperor Charles V claimed it and held it against the French until 1540, when he turned it over to his son, Philip II of Spain. As Philip II was then only 13 years old, this was not made public until Charles' abdication in 1556. The first specimen seems a little heavy for a testone, which was normally a little over 9 grams. The Spanish issues for Milan ended with the death of Charles II in 1700, when the duchy passed to Austria, which held it until the coming of Napoleon.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen is 11.82 g, the second specimen is 9.56 g.
Catalog reference: Crippa 26/B. The second specimen is MIR 283/02 (R4).
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 76, The Annemarie and Gerd Köhlmoos Collection, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
- [2]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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