The Renaissance began in Italy long before the epoch of Emperor Charles V.
Duchy of Milan 1450-1535
Francesco I Sforza, 1450-1466 Galeazzo Maria Sforza, 1466-1476 Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza and his mother Bona di Savoia, 1476-1481 Gian Galeazzo Maria's wife Isabella d'Aragona (1470-1524) Gian Galeazzo Maria's sister Bianca Maria Sforza (1472-1510) ⚭ emperor Maximilian Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza and his uncle Ludovico, 1481-1494 Ludovico Maria Sforza, il Moro, 1494-1499 ⚭ Beatrice d'Este Louis XII, King of France, 1500-1512 Massimiliano Maria Sforza, 1512-1515 Francis I of France, 1515-1521 Francesco II Sforza, 1521-1535 |
Bronze about 1441 by Pisanello (Antonio di Puccio Pisano) Ø 87 mm. Kress 5; Pollard (2007) 5. Specimen in The National Gallery of Art, Kress Collection, Washington D.C. Obv.: +FRANCISCVS·SFORTIA·VICECOMES·MARCHIO·ET·COMES·AC·CREMONE·Dominus bust in armor, coat of mail and a captain's hat. Rev.: OPVS·PISANI·PICTORIS - Horse's head, stack of books and sword as symbols of soldierly virtues and scholarship.
Bronze 1456, by Gian Francesco Enzola. Ø 42 mm. Arm.I 44/6; Kress 92. Obv.: FRanciscus SFORTIA VICECOMES MedioLanI DVX IIII BELLI PATER ET PACIS AVTOR MCCCCLVI armored bust right between ·V· - ·F· (V F = Vivas Francise or Votum Fecit [a promise made] ?) Rev.: IOannis FRancisci ENZOLAE PARMENSIS OPVS - Under a tree, a greyhound seated; a hand issuing from a radiant cloud nearly touches him; a bridle with open buckle lies on the ground and is tied to the tree by chain.
Compare the painting by Bonifacio Bembo (19x13,5 cm) in the Codice Triv. 786, Biblioteca Trivulziana, Milan. Multiplo del grossone n. d. (1462-64). Ø 24 mm, 6,59 g. CNI 149/33; Crippa 176/27. Specimen from Collezione di Vittorio Emanuele III, BdN-Materiali 42 (2016) p.114. Obv.: (Visconti-Schlange)DVX·MLI·PPIE·ANGLERIE·Q3·COE’· - Bust between initials ·F· - ·S· Rev.: ·S· - ·AMBROSIV'· - ·MEDIOLANI St Ambrose enthroned with scourge and crook in his hands.
Ducato, n.d. (not dated, after 1464). Ø 23 mm, 3,52 g. CNI 147/22; RM 238/1; Crippa 4; Friedb.683. Obv.: (Visconti snake) FRANCISChVS◦SFORTIA·VICecomes'· - bust in armor to the right. Rev.: DVX◦MEDIOLANI·AC - ·IANVaE·Dominus'· "Duke of Milan and Lord of Genoa" Francesco in armor riding to the right, the upraised sword in his right hand; both the rider and the horse wear badges showing a broom with banderole and the Visconti snake.
Medal about 1466 by Sperandio di Mantua. Ø 86 mm. Kress 115; Pollard (2007) 94. Specimen in The National Gallery of Art, Kress Collection, Washington D.C. FRANCISCVS SFORTIA VICECOMES DVX MEDIOLANI QVARTVS // ·OPVS·SPERANDEI· Renaissance building with four cupolas, intended as a memorial of the Duke. The portrait was very likely copied from some painting. [Hill/Pollard]
Porthume bronze medal (1480-88) by Caradosso Foppa. Ø 40 mm, 17 g. Hill Corpus 653b; Pollard (2007) 215. Specimen in the Coin Cabinet, Staatliche Mussen zu Berlin, displayed in the Bode-Museum, room 216. Obv.: FRANCISCVS SFORTIA VICECOMES DVX MLI QVARTVS. - Bust in armor to the left. On the chest the Impressa 'cane sotta il pino' (see above). Rev.: CLEMENTIA·ET·ARMIS·PARTA - Francesco Sforza on horseback under a canopy followed by warriors. Citizens of Milan knelt in front of him and received him in 1450 when he moved in. |
'Leone Galeato' Doppio ducato (testone d'oro, n.d., about 1469) Ø 29 mm, 6,99 g. CNI 163/5; RM 243/2; Crippa 1; Friedb.689. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) GALEAZ·M·SFO·VICECOMES·DVX·MLI·V· - bust to the right. Rev.: (Visconti snake) PAPIaE·ANGLE·Q3·CO·AC·IANVE·DNS·ӡC· a lion sitting on a fire and sheathed in a helmet with crest and feather headdress; the repeated motto reads "ICH HOF" (German 'I hope'); firebrands with two buckets at the side. In the field: initials Gӡ - M for Galeazzo Maria (Gӡ = GZ). [ His namesake Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1385-1402) used already the abbreviation G3, see
The legend on both sides reads:
Denaro CNI p.98 n.99 : +·COMES·VIRTVTVM· _ cross // +·D·MEDIOLANI·3C'· _ G3 ] "Galeazo Maria Sforza Viscount (Vicecomes), 5th Duke of Milan (Mediolani), Count of Pavia (Papiae), Angera (at the south end of Lake Maggiore) and (AC) Lord (Dominus) from Genoa (Ianua), etc.(ӡC=ZC)" The pattern of this ducato pleased the duke and he ordered 10,000 pieces in January 1469.
Compare the portrait of the avers to a painting from 1471, 65x42 cm (Uffizi, Florence). 'biscione visconteo' with crowned helmet and dragon Ducato n. d. (about 1467). Ø 22 mm, 3,48 g. CNI 163/8; RM 244/3; Crippa 2; Friedb.688var. Legends in gothic letters. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) G3·MA·SF·VICECOMES·DVX·MLI·V· = Galeazo Maria Sforza Vicecomes Dux MedioLanI V = "Galeazzo Maria Sforza, 5th Duke of Milan" juvenile effigy to the right in a coat of mail (compare with Pisanello's bronze above). Rev.: ✠ PP·ANGLE·Q3·CO·AC·IANVE·DNS.3C' = PaPiensis ANGLiEra Tricarici COmes AC IANVaE DomiNuS eTC "Count of Pavia and Angara and Tricarico, also Lord of Genoa" - similar to next coins; in the field: G - ӡ (ӡ = Z) for Galeazzo.
Ducato n. d. Ø 22 mm, 3,45 g. CNI 164ff/20-34; RM 246/5a; Crippa 5; Friedb.688. Legends in Roman letters. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) G3·M·SF·VICECOS·DVX·MLI·V· - elderly head to the right, large size. Rev.: ✠ PP·ANGLE·Q3·CO·AC·IANVE'D' - similar to the Teston below. Galeazzo II Visconti, 1354-78 already used this design of the reverse, eg. on a grosso (24 mm, 2,5 g.)
Testone n. d. (since 1474) Ø 29 mm, 9,53 g. CNI 171/77; RM 248/8; Crippa 6A. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) GALEAZo·Maria·SFortia.VICECOmeS·DVX·MedioLanI·QuInTus "Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Viscount, 5th Duke of Milan ..."; armored bust to the right in a coat of mail; circle behind the head. Rev.: PaPiae·ANGLEriae·Queӡ· - ·COmes·AC·IANVaE·Dominus· "... Count of Pavia and Angara, also Lord of Genoa" Visconti coat of arms with a crowned helmet: winged dragon with a human in the throat; in the field, the initials Gӡ· - ·M· and the 'tizzoni ardenti con secchi' (trunks standing in fire and buckets roped to the trunks).
This testone ('testa' = head), issued since 1474, was the first silver coin to show a lifelike Renaissance
Crown and arms of the Duchy Mezzo testone n. d. Ø 27 mm, 5,10 g. CNI 173/96var; RM 251/10; Crippa 8. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) GALEAZ·M·SF·VICECOS·DVX·MLI·QIT' - armored bust to the right. Rev.: (head of St. Ambrose) PP'ANGLE'Q3'CO'AC·IANVE·DNS·7C' (7C' = ZC' = etc.) Crown with olive and palm branches, the quartered arms of Milan (imperial eagle / Visconti snake), on the sides: crowned initials G - M.
St. Ambrose, the patron of the city Grosso da 8 soldi. Ø 27 mm, 3,46 g. RM 251/11; Crippa 9A. Obv: (Visconti-snake) GALEAZ·MA·SF·VICECOS·DVX·MELI·V·3·C'· - armored bust to the right. Rev.: S· - AM - BROSI'·MELI· - St. Ambrose to the right riding against three warriors. The figure refers to St. Ambrose's struggle against the Arians.
Grosso da 4 soldi. Ag, Ø 24 mm, 2,6 g. RM 252/12; Crippa 10. Obv.: (Visconti-snake) GALEAZ·MA·SF·VICECO·DVX·MLI·V· - effigy between Gӡ - M . Rev.: S· - AM - BROSI'·MELI· - St. Ambrose enthroned and with scourge and crozier.
Grosso da 4 soldi. Ag, Ø 25 mm, 2,44 g. RM 252/13; Crippa 12. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) Gӡ·MA·SF·VICECOMES·DVX·MELI·V· armored bust to the right between initials Gӡ - ·M . Rev.: S - AMBROSI' - St. Ambrose raises his scourge with his right hand while restraining an armed soldier with his right hand. |
Testone, n. d. Ø 29 mm, 9,32 g. CNI 183/11; RM 257/6; Crippa 2. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) BONA·7[=et]·IO·GZ·M·DVCES·MEdioLanI·VI· Bona and her son: "the 6th Dukes of Milan" bust of the regent with widow's veil and pearl necklace. Rev.: (head of St. Ambrose) SOLA·FACTA·SOLVM·DEVM·SEQVOR· "Only to deeds and God alone I hold" Phoenix with outstretched wings at the stake. This is the first instance of an Italian coin bearing a woman's head since the Roman Empire.
Doppio zecchino, n. d. Ø 24 mm, 6,95 g. CNI 183/4; RM 256/2; Crippa 1; Friedb.690. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) BONA·DVCIs - SA·MedioLanI·7C' [7C = et cetera] bust of the regent with widow's veil and pearl necklace. Rev.: (head of St. Ambrose) IOannes·GaleaZius·Maria·SFortia VI - CECOmes·DuX·Mediolani·SeXtus armoured bust of the young Duke to the right.
Geprägte Silver medal n. d. Ø 43 mm, 24,29 g. CNI 183/5; RM 258/7; Hill Corpus 677a; Börner 254. Specimen in the Coin cabinet, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Obv.: ⁎BONA⁎7(et)⁎IOannea⁎GaleaZius⁎Maria⁎DVCES⁎MEdioLanI⁎VI(sextus)⁎ - Bust of the mother. Rev.: ⁎GALEAZzo⁎Maria⁎SForza⁎VICe⁎COmes⁎DVX⁎MEDioLanI⁎V(quintus)⁎ - Bust of the late father. Gian Galeazzo Maria appear only in the obverse-legend. The reverse is entirely dedicated to the late father.
Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza alone, 1481
Doppio ducato n. d. (1481) Ø 27 mm, 6,98 g. CNI 185/7; RM 259/2; Crippa 1; Friedb.693. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) IOannes·GaleaZius·Maria·SForza·VICECOmeS·DVX·MedioLanI·SeXTus' armored bust of the young Duke to the right, with long hair and bonnet. Rev.: ✠ - PaPiae.ANGLEriae - Q3[que]·COmeS·7C' [7C = "etc."] quartered shield of Milan surmounted by two helms with crest face each other: On the left a crown, a dragon with comb, a human in the mouth ('drago visconteo'). On the right a collar, a winged monster with human head, a ring with a diamant. The ancestor Muzio Attendolo obtained this ring in 1409 from Margrave Nicolò III Ferrara in recognition of military support. [RM] - There may be a connection to the 'impresa dei tre anelli con diamante'.
Medal or multiple testone. Ø 38 mm, 24,86 g. CNI 186/15 tav.9/10; RM 261/6; Crippa 6B. IOANNES·G3·M·SF·VICECO·DVX·MLI·SX // ·PAPIE·ANGLE·Q3·COMES·ET·CET'· quartered shield (imp. eagle / Visconti snake) surmounted by two crowned helmets with crest; left helmet as in the coins above and below; right helmet with feathers as crest. |
Isabella d'Aragona (1470-1524)
on a separate page
- daughter of Alfonso II of Naples and wife of Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza |
Bianca Maria Sforza (1472-1510)
- sister of Gian Galeazzo Maria Sforza and wife of Emperor Maximilian- |
Testone (Lira da 20 Soldi) n. d. Ø 29 mm, 9,68 g. CNI 190/32; RM 266/9; Biaggi 1570; Crippa 4. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) ·IOGZ·M·SF·VICECOMES·DVX·MLI·SX· armored bust of the young Duke to the right. Rev.: LVdovicus·PATRVO· - ·GVBENANTE· [BE superposed] "... paternal uncle, gubernator" quartered shield of Milan, dragon and monster face each other as seen two coins before. On the left a crown, a dragon with comb, a human in the mouth ('drago visconteo'). On the right a collar, a winged monster with human head, a ring with a diamant. The ancestor Muzio Attendolo obtained this ring in 1409 from Margrave Nicolò III Ferrara in recognition of military support. Look at the enlarged detail
(Does the collar of the monster consist of rings with diamond?)
Ducato n. d. (1481-94) Ø 23 mm, 3,5 g. CNI 187/7-10; RM 263/3; Biaggi 1567; Crippa 2. IO GZ·M·SF·VICECO·DVX·MLI·SX· // ·LV·PATRVO· - ·GVBENANTE·
Doppio Ducato n. d. Ø 25 mm, 7,04 g. CNI 187/5; RM 262/2; Biaggi 1566; Crippa 1; Friedb.695. Obv.: (head St. Ambrose) ·IOGZ·M·SF·VICECOMES·DVX·MLI·SX· armored bust of the young Duke to the right. Rev.: LVDOVICVS·PA - TRVVS·GVBERNANS· "uncle Ludovico, gubernator" armored bust of Ludovico Maria Sforza to the right. Compare with the reverse of the coin above: The regent's effigy completely dislodges the imagery and takes up more space than the duke's effigy does. This coin seems to have two equally important sides.
Testone n. d. Ø 27 mm, 9,56 g. CNI 23; RM 264/8; MIR 221/2. IO GZ·M·SF·VICECO·DVX·MLI·SX // LVDOVICVS·PATRVVS·GVBNANS· |
The title of Ludovico il Moro contains 'ANGLUS DUX' instead of 'VICECOMES DUX'. Doppio Ducato n. d. Ø 26 mm, 6,98 g. CNI 198/7; MR 267/2; Crippa 1B note, Friedb.698. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) LVDoVICVS·Maria· - SFortia·ANGLVS·DVX·MedioLanI· ANGLVS means 'descended from the old count of Angera'. Armored bust to the right, coat of mail around the neck. Rev.: ✠ PaPiae·ANGLEriae·Que3·COmes·AC· - IANVaE·Dominus·7C' [7C = et cetera] The crowned Duke on a galloping horse, in armor and with raised sword. Both horse and rider wear badges showing the Visconti snake and the 'imprese Scopetta'. The legend on both sides translates: "Ludovicus Maria Sforza Anglus, Duke of Milan, Count of Pavia (Papiae), Angera (Lago Maggiore) and Lord of Genoa (Ianua), etc." Note the similarity to the ducat of his father Francesco I Sforza. There is one 'scopetta' with band for the motto on Francesco's ducat and both rider and horse wear badges with a 'biscione'. Here, there are two brooms without band and only one Visconti snake.
Testone n. d. Ø 27 mm, 9,67 g. CNI 199/19; RM 269/5; Biaggi 1578; Crippa 2. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) LVDOVICVS·M· - SF·ANGLVS·DVX·MLI - armored bust right. Rev.: (head of St. Ambrose) PaPiae·ANGLEriae·Q3·COmes·AC·IANVaE·Dominus·7C' The quartered arms of the Duchy of Milan are linked to two 'imprese': 'piu mai' (eng. 'more than ever' - the ducal crown with inserted olive and palm branche) and the 'tizzone ardente coi secchi' (the 'firebrands with buckets'). Ludovico Maria Sforza, il Moro and his wife Beatrice d'Este Prova di testone 1497. Ø 27 mm, 10,5 g. CNI 202/5; RM 272/11; Crippa 11; Kress 654; Pollard (2007) 795. Specimen in the Kress Collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) LVDOVIC'·M·SF· - 1497 - ·ANGLV'·DVX M Rev.: ✠ BEATRIX·SForzia·ANGLA·ESTenSIS·DVCISsA MedioLanI Compare to a 1990 medal in silver, Ø 40 mm, 30 g.
Look at this detail of the Sforza altar , (ca. 1494, 230x165 cm, Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan): Ludovico and son Massimiliano kneel on the left, Beatrice and the younger son Francesco kneel on the right. |
Gros da 12 soldi a 15, n. d. Ø 32 mm, 7,75 g. CNI 211/77 tav.11/4; RM -; Crippa 5 (p.285). Obv.: ✠ LVDOVIC'·D·G·REX·FRANCORVM(I)· Rev.: (head of St. Ambrose) ·ET·MEDIOLANI·DVX·ET·C'· crowned arms (France/Milan) between two crowns.
Doppio Ducato, n. d. Ø 28 mm, 6,97 g. CNI 203f/8-11var; Crippa 1; Friedb.704. Obv.: ✠ LVDOVIC'·D - G·FRANCOR'·REX bust with decorated cap to the right, a lily on the chest. Rev.: ME - DIO - LA - NI - ·DVX (Mediolani Dux) Milan's patron Saint Ambrose with raised scourge riding to the right, French royal arms at the bottom.
Testone, n. d. Ø 28 mm, 9,68 g. CNI 208/46; Crippa 3. Obv.: ✠ LVDOVICVS·D·G·FRANCORVM·REX bust with decorated cap to the right, a lily on the chest. Rev.: ME - DIOL - AN - I·D - VX riding St. Ambrose as before.
Da 10 ducati, n. d. Ø 39 mm, 34,32 g. CNI 203,1 (coin); Crippa 24 (medal); Ciani 989 (coin). Obv.: ✠ ⚜LVDOVICVS⚜DG⚜REX⚜FRANCORVM - Bust right. Rev.: MEDIOL - ANI·DVX - crowned quartered shield France/Milan. |
Pattern for a multiple testone or a medal. Ø 38 mm, 34,05 g. CNI 218/2; RM 273/2; Crippa 312/8. Obv.: (Visconti snake) MAX·MAria·SForza·VICECOmes·DVX·MLI·VIII·C3 "... 8th Duke of Milan" armored bust with beret to the left. Rev.: ✠ S AMEROSIVS I[=P]IETATE DEI (unfinished legend) St. Ambrose enthroned and with nimbus and mitra, his right hand raises a scourge, the left hand holds an episcopal crozier. |
Doppio ducato, n. d. Ø 28 mm, 6,85 g. CNI 220/1. Obv.: ·FRANCISCVS✠D·G·FRA·REX· - bust to the left. Rev.: (head of St. Ambrose) MEDIOLANI· - *DVX*ET*CET - crowned arms France/Visconti. Look at the obverse of such a piece, preserved in the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
This is the only gold with the portrait of Franz I, that came into circulation. In his native France, he was shown only on silver coins.
Pattern. Ø 38 mm. CNI 221/8. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) *FRANCISCVS*D*G*FRANCORVM*REX* - bust to the right. Rev.: *MEDIOLANI* - *DVX*ET*C* - crowned arms France/Visconti. |
Pattern or medal (reproduction 1990), Ø 40 mm. CNI 224/9; RM 276/5. Obv.: (head of St. Ambrose) *FRANCISCVS*SForza*VICECOmes*DVX*MEDIOLAnI*II* effigy - for the first time a Sforza without coat of mail at the neck. Rev.: Squared shield (imp.eagle/Visconti 'biscione'); on top: a small head of St. Ambrose between S - A; on the sides: DVX - MLI; at the bottom: SECO - NDVS. Two 'imprese' appear as space fillers: 'piu mai' (crown with inserted olive and palm branches)
and 'tizzone ardente coi secchi' (firebrand with buckets).
Medal worth 6 scudi d'oro. Ø 30 mm, 19.95 g. CNI 244/2; RM 274/1. The only known specimen in the Gabinetto Numismatico e medagliere, Castello Sforzesco, Milan. Obv.: +FRANCISCI SF II - DVCIS MLI - Bust in tunic to the left. Rev.: Sanctus·AMBROSIVS· - ARCHIEPiscopus·MEDIolani - Bust with nimbus and mitre to the front. The legend of the obverse uses the dedication form FRANCISCI (to Francis) which makes a posthumous coinage probable.
|
Thanks to my wife Anna Maria for help and discussion. | 1st issue: 9.2016. |
Next ruler in Milan: Emperor Charles V (1535-1556) |
Ref.: [CNI and RM: page & no. eg. 83/7 = p.83 n.7]
• Corpus Nummorum Italicorum [CNI] vol. V - CNI-Index vol. V • Ravegnani Morosini, Mario [RM]: Signorie e principati - monete italiane con ritratto, 1450-1796. 1984 Sforza, Milano: vol.III, p.238 ff • Biaggi, Elio: Monete e Zecche medievali Italiane dal Sec. VIII al Sec. XV. Torino 1992 • Crippa, Carlo: Le Monete di Milano dai Visconti agli Sforza dal 1329 al 1535. Milano 1986 • Toffanin, Alessandro: Monete Italiane Regionali (MIR-11) - Milano. Ed. Varesi, Pavia 2013 • Velde, François in www.heraldica.org: Imprese [basic information, in English] • Le Imprese della famiglia Visconti-Sforza nelle miniature di Giovanni Pietro Birago ... • • Guerreri, Franca : Le "imprese" Visconti-Sforza, Cap.III: Galeazzo II Visconti • Mangano, Paola : Le 'imprese' do Ludovico il Moro alla Sforzesca di Vigevano • Pozzati, Ugo : Evoluzione dell'Araldica Viscontea-Sforzesca e Imprese Araldiche 1277-1535 • Kroll, Antonia : Propaganda im mittelalterlichen Mailand - das Wappen der Visconti • Black, Jane : Double duchy: the Sforza dukes and the other Lombard title in: Europe and Italy. Studies in honour of Giorgio Chittolini, pp.15-27. Florence 2011. |