From the Cahn Collection

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 1859. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Milano (Duchi). Gian Galeazzo Sforza. with Lodovico Maria Sforza as regent, 1480-1494. AR Testone (9.67 g, 12h). (mitered head) · IOGZ · M · SF · VICECO · DVX · MLI · SX ·, armored bust of Gian Galeazzo Sforza right / (mitered head) · LVDOVICVS · PATRVVS · GVBNANS ·, armored bust of Lodovico Maria Sforza right. CNI V 20; Morosini 8; Crippa 3; Biaggi 1569. EF, toned.

Ex Herbert A. Cahn Collection (Münzen und Medaillen 87, 4 June 1998), lot 518.

Upon the assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, a power struggle ensued between Bona, Galeazzo’s widow, and Lodovico, his brother. The latter was banished to Pisa and eventually became the duke of Bari. Upon returning to Milano, he removed his sister-in-law, had her secretary beheaded, and assumed guardianship over his nephew, Gian Galeazzo. Though he married Isabella, the daughter of Alfonso V de Aragon, Gian Galeazzo was never able to overshadow his uncle and died in 1494, leaving Lodovico in the position for which he had been fighting.