 |
| Italian coins Tuscany Tallero Thaler Silver coin |
 |
| Italian States Coins - Tuscany Tallero Thaler Silver coin |
Italian coins, Italian Coinage, Italian silver coins, Numismatic Collection, Coins of Italy best silver coins for investment.
Obverse: Half-figure of the Duke in armor, radiated with long scepter topped with lily in his right hand.
Legend: FERDINANDVS . MED . MAG . ETR . DVX . III . 1595 .
Reverse: Crowned coat of arms of house de’ Medici within foliage, Maltese cross in background.
Legend: . PISA . IN . VESTVSTAE . MAIESTATIS . MEMORIAM .
Denomination: Tallero (Italian Thaler)
References: Davenport 4186, CNI 17, Ravegnani M.24, Di Giulio 38, KM-15. RR!
Weight: 28.43 gram of Silver
Diameter: 40 mm
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence. In the 15th century, the Medicis, who ruled Florence, annexed surrounding land to create modern Tuscany. Under the Medici, Tuscany throve, while not as internationally renowned as the old republic, it bore witness to unprecedented economic and military success under Cosimo I and his sons, until the reign of Ferdinando II; whose reign saw the beginning of the state's long economic decline. It peaked under Cosimo III. The Medici's only advancement in the latter days of their existence was their elevation to royalty, by the Holy Roman Emperor, in 1691. The senior branch of the Medici line went extinct in 1737.
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (30 July 1549 – 17 February 1609) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I.
When his brother Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany died in 1587, Ferdinando succeeded as Grand Duke at the age of 38.
In many ways, Ferdinando was the opposite of his brother who preceded him. Approachable and generous, he set out to rule mildly. He re-established the justice system and was genuinely concerned about the welfare of his subjects. During his reign, Tuscany revived and regained the independence his brother had given up.
Ferdinando fostered commerce and gained great wealth through the Medici banks, which were established in all the major cities of Europe. He enacted an edict of tolerance for Jews and heretics, and Livorno became a haven for Spanish Jews as well as other persecuted foreigners. He established the Medici Oriental Press (Typographia Medicea), which published numerous books in the Arabic script.
He improved the harbor Cosimo I had built and diverted part of the flow of the Arno River into a canal called the Naviglio, which aided commerce between Florence and Pisa. He fostered an irrigation project in the Val di Chiana, which allowed the flatlands around Pisa and Fucecchio and in the Val di Nievole to be cultivated.