Milan_E
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Duchy of Milan
Francesco Sforza came into power in Milan in 1450, after the Visconti family had died out. The period of the Sforza dynasty in Milan lasted until 1535, but it was interrupted by several French occupations. In 1525, Charles V. won the battle of Pavia, and when the Sforza family died out in 1535, the duchy of Milan passed to Charles V and Spanish Habsburg.
Charles V engaged the best contemporary engraver, Leone Leoni (1509-1590) for the mint of Milan. Leoni also modelled several medals and bronze statues for the emperor.


Scudo d'argento (100 soldi), n. d.,     dies by Leone Leoni.     Ø 43 mm, 33,73 g.
CNI V p.231 n.15 tav.14/4; Crippa 4, Dav.8304.
The Bavarian Coin Collection presents this piece in their permanent exhibition in Munich.
Obv.:   ·IMP·CAES·CAROLVS·V·AVG¤  -  laureated bust, lion head at the shoulder.
Rev.:   ·TE·DEVM·LAV DAMVS·     "We praise Thee, O Lord".
Saint Augustine (kneeling) and Saint Ambrose (with crosier), flagellate between them and
the Holy Spirit (pigeon) above.     Exergue: the saints' names ·S·AVG·S·AMB·
Scudo d'argento: This large Italian silver coin was first minted for Charles V in Milan in 1551. It was as highly valued as the Scudo d'oro in Philip II's reign.
Saint Ambrose of Milan (about 340-397) and Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) belong to the four Great Doctors of the Western Church. Ambrose was elected Bishop of Milan in 374 and is the city's patron saint. He was highly influential in bringing about Augustine's conversion.


Scudo d'argento da soldi 110, n. d.   dies by Leone Leoni.       Ø 43 mm, 36,90 g.
CNI V p.232 n.17 tav.14/5; Crippa ?, Dav.8305.
Specimen from Gabinetto Numismatico, Castello Sforzesco, Milan.
Obv.:  as before.
Rev.:   ·DISCITE·IVS - ITI - IAM·MONITI et non temnere divos     [Vergil, Aeneis 6,620]
"Having been warned, study justice and learn not to despise the gods"
Fight between Jupiter and the titans:
above Jupiter sits on an eagle and hurls lightning, below defeated titans lay between rocks.

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Mezzo Scudo d'argento, 1552.     Ø 34 mm, 16,77 g.   CNI V p.230 n.4; Crippa 6B.
Obv.:   ¤ IMP·CAES·CAROLVS·V·AVG·
Rev.:   ¤ CVIQ3ue - SVVM ¤   however, with the misprint GVIQ instead of CVIQ.
"To each his own"   -   Crowned eagle above the globe with lightning and laurel in its claws.
Globe between date I5 - 52.


Denaro da 32 soldi imperiali, n. d.     Ø 34 mm, 10,85 g.   CNI V p.233 n.26; Crippa 8C.
Dies apparently not by Leone Leoni.
Obv.:   CAROLVS·V·IMPERATOR   -   laureated bust with the Golden Fleece on the breast.
Rev.:   SANTVS·AMBROSIVS·   -   Saint Ambrose with flagellate and crosier.
Exergue: ·MLM· for Mediolanum "Milan".
This coin was called burigozzo (from boricco, it. for hood) because of the appearance of the saints mitra.
In 374, the popular prefect Ambrose went to the basilica where a new bishop was to be elected. Because of a dispute between Trinitarians and Arians an uproar was likely, and Ambrose intended to avert it. As he addressed the assembly, a child called out "Ambrose for bishop!" Others took up the call, and Ambrose was univocally elected bishop.
The flagellate, Ambrose's identification attribute, is supposed to have reference to Christ's driving the money-changers out of the temple.


Quarto di Scudo d'argento (Testone con la colonne), n. d. (1552).     Ø 28 mm, 9.09 g.
CNI V p.236 n.56; Crippa 11.
Obv.:   IMP·CAES·CAROLVS·V·AVG   -   laureated bust, annulet behind the neck.
Rev.:  the pillars of Hercules stand in the see and are embraced by a band with the motto "PLVS VLTRA".
The reverse presents a so called 'impresa'.
A 'impresa' consists of a figure (body) and a motto (soul).
The figure (pillars of Hercules) symbolize the Strait of Gibraltar.
The motto ("always forward, even further") contradicted what people thought about the edge of the world.
See more: coins from Charles V in Spain.


Prova in rame (pattern in copper).     Cu   Ø 28? mm, 9.11 g.   CNI -; Crippa -; MIR -.
Obv.:   ·IMP·CΛES·CAROLVS·V·AVG
Rev.:   the pillars of Hercules stand in the see, band with the motto "PLVS VLTRA" as before.


2 Scudi d'oro, n.d.     Ø 27 mm, ca.6,6 g.   CNI V p.231 n.14 tav.14/3; Friedb.708a.
Obv.:   ·IMP·CΛRS·CΛROLVS·V·ΛVG   -   Draped, laureate head of the Emperor to the right.
Rev.:   the pillars etc. as before, now with "imperial mitre" the crown suggesting a Bishops headdress.


Testone con la Salute (25 Soldi), n.d. (1552), dies by Leone Leoni.   Ø 28 mm, 8,48 g.
CNI V p.235 n.47; Crippa 12.
Obv.:   ·IMP·CΛES·CΛROLVS·V·ΛVG  -  laureated head.
Rev.:   SΛLVS ΛVG - VSTΛ
The river deity Po lies propped up against an urn (river soarce);
Salus, the Roman goddess of public well-being, feeds a serpent from a patera.
Exergue: PADVS·MDL·     PADVS = river Po ;   MDL = MeDioLanum = Milan.
Compare with another genuine specimen [note the water pouring out of the source],
with an imitation [round and well centered], with another imitation [with a perfect rim on the revers]
and with a further imitation presented at Carlo V d'Asburgo, la Salus e il fiume Po


Testone con la Pace.     Ø 30 mm, 9,82 g.   CNI V p.234 n.41 tav.14/9
Obv.:   IMP·CAEᔓ·CAROLVᔓ·V·AV   -   Laurel head right, as before.
Rev.:   CLAV - De - BELLI - PORTE   "close the gate to war"
The personification of peace stands in front of a building.
Inside a chained person among weapons.


1/2 Testone (16 soldi),   dies by Leone Leoni.   Ø 28 mm, 5,34 g.   CNI V p.237 n.63; Crippa 14.
Obv.:   ·IMP·CΛES·CΛROLVS·V·ΛVG   -   Laureate bust in cuirass.
Rev.:   OB / INSVB / RIΛM / SERVΛ / TΛM   in oak wreath.


Denaro da 10 soldi.     Ø 27 mm, 3,28 g.   CNI V p.238 n.74; Crippa 15.
Obv.:   IMP·CAES·CAROLVS·V·AVG   -   Laureate bust in cuirass to the right, double eagle below.
Rev.:   CHRIST·RELIG - PROPVGNATOR   -   Figure of Faith standing with cross and chalice
between snake and board ( LVC / Q / R / LL) with a perforated handle on top.


Testone della pièta, n.d., dies by Leone Leoni.   Ø 30 mm, 12,02 g.   CNI V p.234 n.38; Crippa 26B.
an outstanding Renaissance product in the best tradition of ancient Roman coins.
Obv.:   IMP·CAES· - CAROLVS·V·AVG  -  Charles V in classical armour and wearing a laurel crown.
Rev.:   ·Senatus·Populus·Que·MEDIOLanum·OPTIMO·PRINCIPI·
"(dedicated) to the excellent prince by the senate and people of Milan",
in correspondence with the antique SPQR (with R for Rome).
PIETAS holds a Patera (for offering) and is seated between Roman armours on a throne with crossed legs;
the motive follows the Sestertius of Caligula (AD 37-41).
Exergue: PIETAS

Further portraits on coins and medals by Leone Leoni on this website.

Ref.:
• Crippa, Carlo:  Le Monete di Milano durante la dominazione spagnola dal 1535 al 1706. Milano 1990.
• Corpus Nummorum Italicorum (CNI), vol.V: Milano.   -   Indici vol. V

upgraded 10.2015.

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