Ferrara 1620 testone

Goldberg sale 81, lot 2422

the duchy of Ferrara in 1494

This specimen was lot 2422 in Goldberg sale 81 (Los Angeles, September 2014), where it sold for $493.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Italian States - Papal/Roman States. Testone, 1620 (Ferrara). Paul V Burghese, 1605-1621. Capped bust right. Reverse: St. George gal[lo]ping right, spearing dragon, shields below. A pleasing coin with a strong portrait. Previously mounted and worn as a Papal badge. Scarce type. NGC graded Very Fine, Details (Mount Removed)." This type was minted in Ferrara 1619-20 for Paul V (1605-21). Testone were also minted in Rome during the pontificate but are rare and none are dated 1620. The testone was thirty baiocchi, while the piastra, the Italian equivalent of the German thaler, was 105 baiocchi (3½ testone).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 9.59 g, silver, 0.917 fine.

Catalog reference: CNI-104; Berman-1605, KM-21.

Source:

• Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
• Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Aleeza Brown, Yifu Che, Jason Villareal and Stephen Harvey, Goldberg Sale 81: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2014.

Link to:

• 1620-FR piastra, Ferrara mint
• 1621-NF piastra, Ferrara mint
• 1667 testone sede vacante
• Coins and currency dated 1620
• return to coins of the Papal States