Teston of Henry II
1550 ・ silver ・ 16th century ・ Paris mint
obverse
About the photos
The reverse is not shown on this page. Only the obverse is pictured.
The silver teston of Henry II (1550, Paris). The name comes from the Italian testone, big head. Breaking with the stylised royal image of the Middle Ages, it set the king's living profile on a large silver coin. This style of portrait coinage was brought back by Louis XII as duke of Milan, reached its height in the reign of Francis I, and passed on to Henry II. A crowned royal profile and the legend 'Henry II, king of France' — money had begun to say whose it was through the king's face.