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1 Testone - Ercole I
| Issuer | Ferrara, Duchy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1471-1505 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | A boldly rendered seven-headed Lernaean Hydra occupying the entire field, depicted with intertwining serpentine bodies rising from stylized water at the base, the multiple fanged heads spreading outward in dynamic composition. The Hydra was the personal impresa (heraldic device) of Ercole I d'Este, symbolizing the duke's strength and invincibility. The relief is exceptionally high for a hammered coin, demonstrating the accomplished die-cutting of the Ferrarese mint. The design fills the field to the beaded border with no reverse legend. |
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| Mint | Ferrara Mint |
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| Additional information |
Ercole I d'Este ruled Ferrara for thirty-four years, but his monetary policy was defined by a single ambition: competing with Milan. The testone — a large-flan silver denomination introduced by the Sforza in the 1460s — was adopted by Ercole as a deliberate assertion of ducal parity with his northern rivals. Ferrara's version circulated widely across the Po Valley trading network, where its weight standard made it a practical instrument for merchants moving between Este and Sforza territory.
The CNI X listing distinguishes several die variants across the long reign, a consequence of continuous production over three decades at the Ferrara mint.