ITALY, Ferrara (Duchy). Alfonso I d'Este. 1505-1534. AR Quarto – Testone (29mm, 9.35 g, 12h). First emission, struck 1505. Good VF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 990. Estimated: $ 4 000

The J. Eric Engstrom Collection: Italy, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 4 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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ITALY, Ferrara (Duchy). Alfonso I d'Este. 1505-1534. AR Quarto – Testone (29mm, 9.35 g, 12h). First emission, struck 1505. Armored bust left, without beard / Romanesque Samson seated left on curule chair, holding lion head from which a swarm of bees flies forth; stump entwined by serpent to left. Belessia 4/C; MIR 270. Richly toned. Good VF. Rare.

From the J. Eric Engstrom Collection. Ex Nomisma S.p.a. 54 (30 August 2016), lot 985.

The reverse of this intriguing type alludes to the Riddle of Samson found in the Book of Judges: ‘Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.’ On the road to Timnah Samson was attacked by a young lion which he tore apart with his bare hands. Later, on returning to Timnah to take a Philistine bride, Samson discovered a swarm of bees had made a honeycomb in the carcass of the lion. Samson poses the riddle at his wedding feast confounding his Philistine hosts. A satisfactory reading of why this Biblical enigma should have been chosen for the reverse of this type has yet to be made.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Four – Lot 984–1341 will be held Wednesday afternoon, 10 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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