Parma Testone
Italy
1545–1735
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$21.75
Based on Silver spot price ($79.11/oz) · 90.0% purity · 9.5g
Updated 12:48 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Italy |
| Years Minted | 1545–1735 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 9.5 g |
| Diameter | 30 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the portrait of the Duke of Parma.
Reverse
Depicts the Farnese coat of arms or a related emblem.
History & Notable Facts
The Parma Testone's most intriguing feature is its depiction of the Farnese dukes in full armor, turning a simple silver coin into a portable billboard for Renaissance power struggles.
That said, these coins were minted in the Duchy of Parma from 1545 onward, typically weighing around 9.5 grams of silver and valued at ten soldi. Early issues under Pier Luigi Farnese showed crude but forceful portraits, while later ones, up to 1735 under the Bourbons, refined the style with more intricate details. Variations exist due to different mints and assayers, though regional wars often disrupted production.
We don't know the exact mintage for most years; archives burned in various conflicts. What survives hints at a coin that circulated widely in northern Italy, sometimes recycled into jewelry.
It's a bit like the dukes themselves—imposing, but not always as rare as legends claim.
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