This coibn is a testone, from the Italian word 'testa' for 'head'. Testonie were large, heavy silver coins minted in Italy since the mid-15th century. Galeazo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan, minted the first of these coins in 1474. From then on the name was applied to all large silver coins featuring a portrait. This testone was issued by Galeazo's grandson Ercole I d'Este (1471-1505).