A Couple of Papal Medal Newps from the NYINC
Iosephus
Posts: 872 ✭✭✭
Yesterday I attended the NYINC show (my first show ever) and ended up purchasing a couple of items, which I figured I'd share.
I also finally got around to imaging this one from a few weeks ago, so I'll post it first:
Return From France and Reconstruction of the Milvian Bridge
Silver, 39 mm Ø, 26.8 g
Obverse: Bust of Pius VII facing left wearing mozzetta, stole, and zucchetto. Around, PIVS VII / P · M · AN · VI.
Reverse: View of the front of the reconstructed Milvian Bridge. Above and around, EX GALLIA REDEVNTI POSTR · EID · MAI. Below, on the ground line, J. HAM. In exergue, P. MILVIVS REST / MDCCCV.
Annual medal for the third year of Pius VII's reign (1805), engraved by Giovanni Hamerani (J. HAM). The medal commemorates the return of the pope from an extended trip to Paris and the reconstruction of Milvian Bridge (or Ponte Milvio) for this event. The Milvian Bridge is an important bridge in Northern Rome and crosses the Tiber River. The reverse inscriptions, when combined, translate appropriately as "The Milvian Bridge Restored for His Return from France, May 16, 1805". The architect of the reconstruction was Giuseppe Valadier, and the tower he designed for the bridge is the focal point of the reverse design. A probable original or early strike.
The first of the NYINC purchases, this one picked up from Allen Berman:
Expansion of the Port at Civitavecchia
Bronze, 35 mm Ø, 20.0 g
Obverse: Bust of Clement XIII facing left, with tiara and cope. Around, CLEMENS · XIII / P · M · A · III. Below, on truncation, · H ·, and to the right, 1761.
Reverse: View of the new pier with ships at the port at Civitavecchia, in front of the Porta Livorno. Around, MERCIVM · IMPORTANDARVM · COMMODITATI.
Annual medal for the third year of Clement XIII's reign (1761), engraved by Ferdinando Hamerani. The medal commemorates the opening of "Calata Maggiore", a large new pier at the port of Civitavecchia, directly across from the Porta Livorno (Livorno Gate), a main entranceway. The new pier was of sufficient size to allow for the docking of multiple ships at the same time, as illustrated on the reverse. The need for increased capacity came from the general security at the port, illustrated here by the men standing guard. The Livorno Gate, shown in the background, allowed for easy and quick access for the port workers. The reverse inscription roughly translates as "Benefit of Imported Goods". The bright red color could lead to a conclusion that this example is an early strike, or even original, as Berman noted.
An increasing amount of trade at the port of Civitavecchia led to the need for greater space and facilities. This increase in trade was primarily because of the safety that the port offered from the usual pirate activities due to efforts of the papal navy. Clement XIII ordered the necessary construction and upgrading of port facilities due to solicitations by the University of Traders. The work was completed in 1761, and the new "Calata Maggiore" had room for multiple ships to dock at the same time, allowing for more efficient loading and unloading. The new pier was constructed directly across from the Livorno Gate, allowing for quick and easy access to the pier by the dock workers. New warehouses were also built near the dock to solve the problem of storing the large amount of trade goods.
The second NYINC purchase; I had planned on passing at first since it was rather pricey for me, but the more I looked at it, I knew I had to have it:
Construction of the Façade of the Lateran Basilica
Gilt, 71.5 mm Ø, 163.3 g
Obverse: Half-figure of Clement XII facing right, hand raised in benediction, with tiara and decorative cope. The cope features a scene of a praying Saint Andrew Corsini and below, the papal coat of arms. Around, CLEMENS · XII / PONT · MAX · AN · III. Below, on truncation, OTTO · HAMERANI · F ·.
Reverse: Frontal view of the façade of the Lateran Basilica. Around, ADORATE · DOMINVM · IN · ATRIO · SANCTO · EIVS. In exergue, MDCCXXXIII. Within cartouche, the ground plan for the basilica's façade and narthex, and the inscription LATERAN · BASIL · PORTICVS. To the sides of the cartouche, on the left · O ·, on the right · H ·. On the entablature, CLEM · XII · P · M · AN · IIII / CHRISTO · SALVATORI / ET · SS · IOAN · BAPT · ET · EV ·. On the border at the bottom, ALPX · GALILÆVS · ARCH · INV ·.
Foundation medal for the construction of the façade of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, engraved by Ottone Hamerani. The reverse illustrates the planned design for the façade by the architect Alessandro Galilei, likely taken from an engraving by Stefano Pozzo released in October of 1733. Though generally matching the completed façade, the papal coats of arms on the windows of the second level on the medal are not present on the finished façade. The inscription on the entablature indicates the dedication from the pope who commissioned the façade and the expected completion in Clement's fourth regnal year (though it was not completed until 1735, and thus the inscription on the completed façade has the correct regnal year of V). The inscription dedicates the structure to "Christ Our Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist". An example of this medal was placed in the foundation on December 8, 1733.
This gilt medal appears to be at the least an early strike, and quite possibly an original, though the gilding does not necessarily indicate an original strike. However, the die states do give clues to dating the strike. First, however, is the problem that there appear to be two obverse dies that were used, with the only easily discernable difference being the distance between the lower of the pope's extended fingers and the first "I" in the regnal year. Based on the few examples that I have images of, it seems that the dies were used indeterminately with three different reverse designs, one being this Lateran Basilica façade design. However, it appears that both dies suffered in later years from flaws such as craacks, pitting, and rust, and none of these are present on this example (this die noticeably developed a crack through the "L" and "E" in the pope's name). Turning to the reverse, several large die cracks formed on the bottom through the cartouche. The latest examples shown three strong cracks, as well as significant rim cuds around the border. Other examples show only two cracks, evidently earlier in the progression of the failure of the die. Again, this example features none of those faults, featuring a pristine reverse die. The superior condition of the dies used in this strike, combined with the excellent strike quality and gilding, point unequivocally to an early, and very possibly original, striking.
I also finally got around to imaging this one from a few weeks ago, so I'll post it first:
Return From France and Reconstruction of the Milvian Bridge
Silver, 39 mm Ø, 26.8 g
Obverse: Bust of Pius VII facing left wearing mozzetta, stole, and zucchetto. Around, PIVS VII / P · M · AN · VI.
Reverse: View of the front of the reconstructed Milvian Bridge. Above and around, EX GALLIA REDEVNTI POSTR · EID · MAI. Below, on the ground line, J. HAM. In exergue, P. MILVIVS REST / MDCCCV.
Annual medal for the third year of Pius VII's reign (1805), engraved by Giovanni Hamerani (J. HAM). The medal commemorates the return of the pope from an extended trip to Paris and the reconstruction of Milvian Bridge (or Ponte Milvio) for this event. The Milvian Bridge is an important bridge in Northern Rome and crosses the Tiber River. The reverse inscriptions, when combined, translate appropriately as "The Milvian Bridge Restored for His Return from France, May 16, 1805". The architect of the reconstruction was Giuseppe Valadier, and the tower he designed for the bridge is the focal point of the reverse design. A probable original or early strike.
The first of the NYINC purchases, this one picked up from Allen Berman:
Expansion of the Port at Civitavecchia
Bronze, 35 mm Ø, 20.0 g
Obverse: Bust of Clement XIII facing left, with tiara and cope. Around, CLEMENS · XIII / P · M · A · III. Below, on truncation, · H ·, and to the right, 1761.
Reverse: View of the new pier with ships at the port at Civitavecchia, in front of the Porta Livorno. Around, MERCIVM · IMPORTANDARVM · COMMODITATI.
Annual medal for the third year of Clement XIII's reign (1761), engraved by Ferdinando Hamerani. The medal commemorates the opening of "Calata Maggiore", a large new pier at the port of Civitavecchia, directly across from the Porta Livorno (Livorno Gate), a main entranceway. The new pier was of sufficient size to allow for the docking of multiple ships at the same time, as illustrated on the reverse. The need for increased capacity came from the general security at the port, illustrated here by the men standing guard. The Livorno Gate, shown in the background, allowed for easy and quick access for the port workers. The reverse inscription roughly translates as "Benefit of Imported Goods". The bright red color could lead to a conclusion that this example is an early strike, or even original, as Berman noted.
An increasing amount of trade at the port of Civitavecchia led to the need for greater space and facilities. This increase in trade was primarily because of the safety that the port offered from the usual pirate activities due to efforts of the papal navy. Clement XIII ordered the necessary construction and upgrading of port facilities due to solicitations by the University of Traders. The work was completed in 1761, and the new "Calata Maggiore" had room for multiple ships to dock at the same time, allowing for more efficient loading and unloading. The new pier was constructed directly across from the Livorno Gate, allowing for quick and easy access to the pier by the dock workers. New warehouses were also built near the dock to solve the problem of storing the large amount of trade goods.
The second NYINC purchase; I had planned on passing at first since it was rather pricey for me, but the more I looked at it, I knew I had to have it:
Construction of the Façade of the Lateran Basilica
Gilt, 71.5 mm Ø, 163.3 g
Obverse: Half-figure of Clement XII facing right, hand raised in benediction, with tiara and decorative cope. The cope features a scene of a praying Saint Andrew Corsini and below, the papal coat of arms. Around, CLEMENS · XII / PONT · MAX · AN · III. Below, on truncation, OTTO · HAMERANI · F ·.
Reverse: Frontal view of the façade of the Lateran Basilica. Around, ADORATE · DOMINVM · IN · ATRIO · SANCTO · EIVS. In exergue, MDCCXXXIII. Within cartouche, the ground plan for the basilica's façade and narthex, and the inscription LATERAN · BASIL · PORTICVS. To the sides of the cartouche, on the left · O ·, on the right · H ·. On the entablature, CLEM · XII · P · M · AN · IIII / CHRISTO · SALVATORI / ET · SS · IOAN · BAPT · ET · EV ·. On the border at the bottom, ALPX · GALILÆVS · ARCH · INV ·.
Foundation medal for the construction of the façade of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, engraved by Ottone Hamerani. The reverse illustrates the planned design for the façade by the architect Alessandro Galilei, likely taken from an engraving by Stefano Pozzo released in October of 1733. Though generally matching the completed façade, the papal coats of arms on the windows of the second level on the medal are not present on the finished façade. The inscription on the entablature indicates the dedication from the pope who commissioned the façade and the expected completion in Clement's fourth regnal year (though it was not completed until 1735, and thus the inscription on the completed façade has the correct regnal year of V). The inscription dedicates the structure to "Christ Our Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and Evangelist". An example of this medal was placed in the foundation on December 8, 1733.
This gilt medal appears to be at the least an early strike, and quite possibly an original, though the gilding does not necessarily indicate an original strike. However, the die states do give clues to dating the strike. First, however, is the problem that there appear to be two obverse dies that were used, with the only easily discernable difference being the distance between the lower of the pope's extended fingers and the first "I" in the regnal year. Based on the few examples that I have images of, it seems that the dies were used indeterminately with three different reverse designs, one being this Lateran Basilica façade design. However, it appears that both dies suffered in later years from flaws such as craacks, pitting, and rust, and none of these are present on this example (this die noticeably developed a crack through the "L" and "E" in the pope's name). Turning to the reverse, several large die cracks formed on the bottom through the cartouche. The latest examples shown three strong cracks, as well as significant rim cuds around the border. Other examples show only two cracks, evidently earlier in the progression of the failure of the die. Again, this example features none of those faults, featuring a pristine reverse die. The superior condition of the dies used in this strike, combined with the excellent strike quality and gilding, point unequivocally to an early, and very possibly original, striking.
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Why does PayPal issue medals.
And why do they look religious in nature?
Oh. Papal medals.