Nomos AG
Auction 11 9 October 2015
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Italy, Carmagnola. Ludovico II Marquis of Saluzzo, 1475-1504. Cornuto or Grosso da 12-15 Soldi (Silver, 28mm, 7.98 g 1), undated. ☩LVDOVIC'MARCHIO'SALVTIAR' Cuirassed bust of Ludovico to left, wearing berretto. Rev. SANCTVS CONSTANTIVS Upper part of a crowned eagle with spread wings above shield bearing the arms of Saluzzo; to left and right, .L. and .M. Biaggi 565 var. CNI II, p. 58, 29 var. (same legends but only 6.70 g). MIR 124 var. RM 6 (obverse)/7 (reverse). Extremely rare, probably an unpublished variant. About very fine.
From a Swiss collection and from the Este Milani collection, Varesi 54, 18 November 2009, 1092, and ex Ratto 1969.
This is a very curious coin! It has been explained as a cornuto (a local version of the Testone) that was struck using an obverse die with a full legend (as used for the extremely rare cornutos - but without the mintmaster's initials) and a reverse die close to one used for the grossi. The slightly low weight can be explained by the amount of wear the coin has suffered, which shows that it remained in circulation for quite some time. However, its weight would be perfectly correct for a Grosso of 12-15 soldi, a coin which was struck in Milan (and elsewhere).
From a Swiss collection and from the Este Milani collection, Varesi 54, 18 November 2009, 1092, and ex Ratto 1969.
This is a very curious coin! It has been explained as a cornuto (a local version of the Testone) that was struck using an obverse die with a full legend (as used for the extremely rare cornutos - but without the mintmaster's initials) and a reverse die close to one used for the grossi. The slightly low weight can be explained by the amount of wear the coin has suffered, which shows that it remained in circulation for quite some time. However, its weight would be perfectly correct for a Grosso of 12-15 soldi, a coin which was struck in Milan (and elsewhere).