Nomos 11

Italy, Asti. Louis XII, King of France and Lord of Asti. 1498-1514. Mezzo Testone (Silver, 28mm, 3.82 g 5), 1498-1508. (lis).LVDOVICVS.D:G.FRANCORVM.REX. Crowned shield bearing the arms of France; to left and right, lis. Rev. (lis):S.SECONDVS. *ASTENSIS*: Nimbate and cuirassed bust of St. Secondus to left. CNI II, p. 33, 5. Duplessy 697. MIR 78. Very rare. Lightly toned and well struck on a full flan (half testons of this type are often found clipped, as the Gnecchi piece in Monnaies et Médailles XV, 1955, 352). Good very fine.

From a Swiss collection.

St. Secondus was a legionary officer who was apparently a native of Asti (Roman Hasta). He was beheaded there under Hadrian for refusing to abjure his faith. Asti was a particularly powerful city of the Piedmont and played an important role in regional trade, but its constant struggles with Savoy finally resulted in the city being taken over by the French crown. It remained a French possession until it passed to Charles V who gave it to his sister-in-law Beatrice of Portugal. She had married Charles III of Savoy in 1521, becoming Duchess of Savoy, and then, on receiving Asti in 1531, Countess of Asti. Thus, Asti finally became a permanent possession of Savoy’s.