Tuscany (1537-57) testone
This specimen was lot 1002 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $1,102.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY, Firenze (Duchy). Cosimo I de Medici. 1537-1557. AR Testone – 3 Barili. Armored and draped bust right / St. John seated facing, head slightly right, raising hand and benediction and holding cross-tipped banner. Some light deposits and hairlines, minor edge marks. Good VF. Rare legend variety and from a celebrated cabinet. From the J. Eric Engstrom Collecion. Ex Spink America (17 May 1999), lot 85; Herbert Cahn Collection (Münzen und Medaillen AG 87, 4 June 1998), lot 500." The republic of Florence dominated central Italy in the late Middle Ages and was a center of the Renaissance. Economic decline, external invasion and internal dissension weakened the state and it collapsed in the 1520's. Alessandro de Medici was the first duke of Florence but was murdered before he could consolidate the state, a task which fell to his cousin, Cosimo de Medici (r. 1537-74). He was promoted to grand duke of Tuscany by pope Pius V in 1569 and he and his heirs ruled there until 1737, when the dynasty fell extinct.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 29 mm diameter, 9.30 g, 6 h axis.
Catalog reference: MIR 122/2.
- [1]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.
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