Achille Cantoni (1844-1914)
Achille Cantoni was born on March 21, 1844 in Viadana, the youngest son of a wealthy Jewish family of
landowners, whose ancestors had settled in that area of the Mantua already in the middle of Eighteenth century.
In 1866 he participated, as a Garibaldian volunteer, in the Third War of Independence.
After returning, he left his ancestral home and moved to Milan where he worked as a banker. In Milan, Cantoni became a well-known collector not just of coins, but also of antiquities, furniture, bronzes, ivories, tapestries, fabrics and carpets. Cantoni became a particular expert in Asian and Islamic art, and served as an expert on behalf of prominent dealers and museums around Europe.
Cantoni was a benefactor of a number of Italian institutions, donating both funds and objects to a number of museums and libraries throughout the country. Cantoni's large numismatic holdings were dispersed in three oublicsales. The first was held by Sambon in 1887, and consisted of lesser ancient coins and a number of important renaissance coins and medallions. Two further sales, which included the bulk of the Roman coinage, were held by Santamaria in 1920.
landowners, whose ancestors had settled in that area of the Mantua already in the middle of Eighteenth century.
In 1866 he participated, as a Garibaldian volunteer, in the Third War of Independence.
After returning, he left his ancestral home and moved to Milan where he worked as a banker. In Milan, Cantoni became a well-known collector not just of coins, but also of antiquities, furniture, bronzes, ivories, tapestries, fabrics and carpets. Cantoni became a particular expert in Asian and Islamic art, and served as an expert on behalf of prominent dealers and museums around Europe.
Cantoni was a benefactor of a number of Italian institutions, donating both funds and objects to a number of museums and libraries throughout the country. Cantoni's large numismatic holdings were dispersed in three oublicsales. The first was held by Sambon in 1887, and consisted of lesser ancient coins and a number of important renaissance coins and medallions. Two further sales, which included the bulk of the Roman coinage, were held by Santamaria in 1920.
Biblio.: Italian Numismatic Society (description)