Tuscany 1583 testone
This specimen was lot 1263 in Sincona sale 76 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 1,300 CHF (about US$1,578 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALY | Toskana. Francesco I. de Medici, 1574-1587. Testone 1583, Firenze. Sehr selten. Gutes vorzüglich. NGC AU58. Hübsche Patina. (Italy, grand duchy of Tuscany, Francis I de Medici, 1574-87, testone of 1583, Florence mint. Very rare, Good extremely fine, Attractively toned.)"
When this coin was issued, the renaissance republic of Florence had been extinct, unmourned, for half a century. The Medicis ruled as grand dukes until the extinction of the line in 1737. The dynasty could do nothing to reverse the economic decline of the region.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 9.09 g.
Catalog reference: MIR 186/2 (R2).
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 76, The Annemarie and Gerd Köhlmoos Collection, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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