★ A beautiful testone of Alfonso I d'Este ★

ITALY. Ferrara. Alfonso I d'Este, 1505-1534. Quarto Scudo or Testone (Silver, 29 mm, 9.64 g, 7 h), circa 1509-1522. ALFONSVS•DVX•FERRARIAE•III• Cuirassed bust of Alfonso I d'Este to left. Rev. •DE FORTI•DVLCEDO• Samson seated to left on curule chair, holding lion mask from which a swarm of five bees flies forth in his right hand; to left, serpent-entwined stump. CNI 29. MIR 271. A beautifully toned and very well preserved example of this iconic issue. Minor die break on the reverse edge, otherwise, good very fine.

Ex Varesi 80, 9-10 November 2022, 97.