View source for Messerano (1530-48) testone

[[Image:S83-4523.JPG|550px|thumb|Sincona sale 83, lot 4523]]
[[Image:Messerano 1786.JPG|550px|thumb|Messerano in 1786, after its absorption by Sardinia]]

This specimen was lot 4523 in Sincona sale 83 (Zurich, May 2023), where it sold for 800 CHF (about US$1,071 including buyer's fees). The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"ITALY ''Messerano, Pier Luca Fieschi, 1528-1548. Testone o. J. (um 1530), Messerano/Crevacuore. Brustbild des Herrschers nach rechts. Rv. Heiliger Theonestus mit Nimbus von vorne sitzend, einen Palmzweig in der Linken. MIR (Piemonte) 709. Gutes sehr schön. Hübsche Patina.'' (Messerano, Peter Lucas Fieschi, 1528-48, undated testone, circa 1530, Messerano or Crevacuore mint. obverse: bust right; reverse: haloed St. Theonestus seated with palm branch in the left hand. Good very fine, Attractively toned).

<p>''Exemplar aus Hess-Divo, Zürich, Auktion 315, Lot 1163. Vermutlich wurden die ersten Testoni dieser Art, mit Brustbild des Herrschers und einem Heiligen auf dem Thron von vorne, in Desana unter Francesco di Marolles in den Jahren 1515/1516 geschlagen. Mehrere Herrschaften in Italien und der Schweiz prägten in der Folge Beischläge zu dieser Vorlage.'' (This specimen is from Hess-Divo, Zurich, auction 315, lot 1163. The first testone of this type, with a bust of the ruler and a saint on the throne from the front, were probably struck in Desana under Francesco di Marolles in the years 1515-16. Several rulers in Italy and Switzerland subsequently coined testone in this style.)"</p></blockquote>  The Fieschi were a family which produced numerous high ranking churchmen, including several cardinals and a pope (Adrian V, 1276). This particular pair are obscure. Messerano is on the Milanese side of the border between Savoy/Sardinia and [[Italy, Milan|Milan]].

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' silver, this specimen is 9.13 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' MIR (Piemonte) 681. 

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* <sup>[1]</sup>Richter, Jürg, ''SINCONA Auction 83, World and Swiss Coins and Medals,'' Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2023.

''Link to:''
* [[Milan (1520) testone]] Francis I of France
* [[Messerano (1525) testone]] Ludovico II and Pier Luca Fieschi
* [[Desana (1525-33) testone]] Giovanni Bartolomeo Tizzone
* [[Messerano (1528-48) cornuto]], Pier Luca Fieschi
* [[Messerano (1528-32) testone]], Ludovico II Fieschi
* [[Messerano (1528-48) testone|(1528-48) testone, eagle obverse/St. Theonestus]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1530]]

[[Category:Selections from Sincona sale 82, 83]]