Construction of the Addizione Erculea

CNG 100, Lot: 2181. Estimate $7500. Sold for $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Ferrara (Duchi). Ercole I d'Este. 1471-1505. AR Testone (28mm, 7.72 g, 7h). · HERCVLES · FERRAR · DVX · II (wedge stops), bare head right / Seven-headed Hydra. CNI X 33; Morosini 4; Biaggi 769. EF, toned. Well struck from artistically engraved dies.

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.