The city of Metz, too, minted silver coins of the popular tornesel type. They depict St Stephen, to whom the city’s cathedral is dedicated. However, the building was still under construction when our piece was minted at some point after 1406.
This fiorino d’oro from around 1430 depicts Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan, tearing along on his horse. The animal’s saddlecloth features the coat of arms (the “biscione”). It became the symbol of the whole of Lombardy – and also of car manufacturer Alfa Romeo.
On this silver coin from AD 1270, Charles of Anjou calls himself Senator of Rome – but he was actually the King of Sicily! Put the puzzle together and you will find the unusual legend.
Testone, “big head”, is the name of silver coins that were introduced in 15th-century Italy. They are particularly large and heavy coins featuring the portrait of a ruler. Here you can see a magnificent testone by Ercole I d’Este, the Duke of Ferrara from around 1500.
Today’s puzzle is a 1547 taler of Elector Moritz of Saxony.
Today’s puzzle is a 1625 ½ krone of Christian IV of Denmark.
Today’s puzzle is a Katanga cross from southern Kongo.
Today’s puzzle is a Dobla Excelente (c.1497 ) of the “Catholic Monarchs” Ferdinand II of Aragón and Isabella I of Castile.
In the 5th century, new rulers established themselves in the Western Roman Empire – and they often had little experience in coinage. This gold coin imitates a solidus of the Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius, but it was minted in Gaul under the Merovingian King Clovis I.
Today’s puzzle is a 100 CHF Swiss gold coin, a so-called Vreneli, of 1925.
