Renaissance Portraiture And The Teston

I'm sure the question on the tip of everyone's tongue is: What about France?!? After all, the term for this coin as I first learned it is the (French) teston.

As it turns out the French royals were relatively late adopters (since, as we've seen, a half dozen Italian city-states, Swiss cantons, etc. had already struck examples by 1500).
In fact, by 1500 two of their close neighbors to the east, the Duchies of Savoy and Lorraine had already struck testons.
Charles I of Savoy struck the first testons there around 1483: https://en.numista.com/198081
Here is a comparison of a 1490s teston of Philip II of Savoy (MIR CE#277, N#577264)

Copyright Nuismatica Ars Classica 2014

with a contemporary Renaissance portrait by Macrino d'Alba

Copyright Christie's 2019

Just north, Duke Rene II of Lorraine struck the first teston there around 1500: https://en.numista.com/322308
His successor, Antoine struck them in greater numbers and for a longer time (1513-1544). Here is one dated 1537 (MB#16, N#140095:



And a contemporary portrait of Antoine by Hans Holbein:

Antoine's coin portrait did not change in 30 years, so apparently he grew a beard somewhere along the way (long beards became fashionable in the mid-16th century). The prominent nose didn't change, though.

Next: Royal France

Alas, I don't have a teston to post from royal France (though I think erafjel does), but it's time to talk about their adoption of this new coin design.
As mentioned in the 9th post on the first page, Louis, Duke of Orleans ruled parts of northern Italy before becoming Louis XII of France. In that post was mentioned a teston he struck as Count of Asti in the 1480s. Shortly after ascending the French throne in 1498 he launched a campaign to take Milan, which he achieved in 1499, striking this wonderful teston circa 1499 (MIR 236):

Copyright Cambi & Crippa 2026

Not only do we get a nice Renaissance portrait of Louis on this coin, but an unusual portrayal on the reverse of Saint Ambrose on horseback! (normally a posture reserved for St. George).

Oddly, Louis would not strike a teston at home in France until around 1514, shortly before his death the next year, ensuring they are scarce https://en.numista.com/46249

It was his successor, Francois I who struck French testons in great abundance during his long reign. Here is an early example (Duplessy Royales #793, N#481919):

Copyright Fritz Rudolf Kunker 2023

...and a portrait of Francois by Jean Clouet, dated slightly later (1525-1530):


Hopefully this numismatic portrait gallery will influence a few other collectors to go looking for Renaissance portraits as they collect (or, you can just look for the coffee table book ... but it doesn't feel quite as nice in your hands.)

Now opening up the thread for anyone who's got a nice portrait like these (pre-1600 to keep within guidelines of this forum) on any of their coins.