MIR 899/1. CNI 14. Davenport 4135. Rare.

Of good shape, broad and regular, free from fractures.

BB/SPL.

The small village of Retegno became part of the Trivulzio family's dominion on January 2, 1654, thanks to the famous "Diploma of Regensburg." With this act, Emperor Ferdinand III sought to reward the merits of Cardinal Gian Giacomo Teodoro Trivulzio, granting him Retegno and the nearby village of Bettola as an imperial barony. Furthermore, he was granted the title of prince and the privilege of minting coins, then known as the "faculty of punching and crucible."

The Trivulzios were one of Milan's oldest noble families, with roots dating back to the 12th century. By the 16th century, they boasted an incredible array of possessions and titles. The Cardinal decided to entrust the design of the Retegno mint to architect Leon Battista Barattieri, one of the most renowned of the time, and once completed, he began minting coins in 1676.

The minters and engravers who worked there helped spread the name of Retegno throughout the world. Among these, Giovanni Battista Brusasorzi, active between 1676 and 1682, stands out. His artistic engravings feature the Collar of the Golden Fleece on his chest and the date 1676 on the coin's obverse, testifying to the skill and fame achieved by Retegno's artisans.