Rare Ferrara Testone

Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 1812. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $10100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Ferrara. Ercole I d'Este. 1471-1505. AR Testone (7.64 g, 3h). Bare head right / Seven-headed Hydra. CNI X 20; Biaggi 769. Good VF, toned, minor scratches under tone. Rare.

From Collection C.G. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 53 (15 March 2000), lot 2178.

This wonderful reverse type refers to the construction of the Addizione Erculea, a northern suburb of Ferrara. The area where the addition was made was covered with malaria-ridden swamps which had to be filled before construction could begin. To symbolize this monumental task, Ercole chose a scene from the exploits of his namesake, Hercules, who slayed the mythological seven-headed Hydra, and placed it on his coinage.