ITALY. Florence. Testone, ND (1532-37). Alessandro De Medici (1531-37). NGC VF-35.

MIR-103. Dies by Benvenuto Cellini. A little worn, as to be expected from the grade, but better detailed than most seen, with the addition of attractive tone over both sides. A RARE type with only a handful sales in electronic auction archives, the last being a holed and plugged example that brought £1100 hammer in a June 2018 DNW auction. Alessandro was the last Medici from the senior branch of the family to rule Florence and was made duke of Florence by Charles V in 1532. He was murdered by a cousin in 1537 and was succeeded by another cousin, Cosimo, who became the first grand duke of Tuscany (see our listings under Tuscany for one of his testons we are offering in this sale).

From the Collection of Dr. James Eustace Bizzell, II.