The middle finger of Galileo's right hand, ca. 1737 (case)

Florence, Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, inv. 2432

A classic example of Galileo's posthumous celebration. The finger was removed from Galileo's mortal remains when his body was moved to the monumental sepulchre in Santa Croce in 1737. The inscription on the base of the stand praises Galileo's scientific and moral virtues.