Teston - Bonifacio Ferrero

Historical Context: This Teston, issued by the Abbey of Fruttuaria under Abbot Bonifacio Ferrero (1529-1543), exemplifies the temporal power of ecclesiastical institutions during the Italian Renaissance. Fruttuaria, in Piedmont, held significant feudal rights, including coinage, often granted by imperial charter. Bonifacio Ferrero, a prominent prelate, leveraged this privilege, reflecting the abbey's semi-autonomous status amidst the fragmented political landscape of Northern Italy and the interplay between local potentates, the Empire, and the Papacy.

Artistry: While the engraver remains unrecorded, the coin’s design adheres to the Italian Renaissance stylistic school. Testons typically featured a dignified bust of the issuing authority on the obverse, here presumably Bonifacio Ferrero in ecclesiastical vestments. The reverse commonly displayed the abbey’s heraldic arms or a religious motif, symbolizing its spiritual and temporal authority. The 31mm diameter allowed for detailed portraiture and complex armorial bearings, characteristic of the era's sophisticated medallic art.

Technical/Grading: Struck in silver (9.07 grams), this Teston’s technical qualities are typical of early 16th-century minting. High-points for wear or strike weakness would include the highest relief areas of the abbot’s effigy (nose, cheekbones, headwear) and intricate reverse heraldry. Due to manual striking, planchet irregularities, off-center strikes, or areas of flatness are common. A well-struck example exhibits sharp details across the full flan, with minimal evidence of die clashing or adjustment marks, frequently observed on such large-diameter silver issues.