Papal Medal - Pope Alexander VI / Coronation

Iosephus

Pope Alexander VI / Coronation

Bronze, 45.9 mm Ø, 45.5 g

Anonymous Roman artist, 1492.

Obverse: Bust of Alexander VI facing left, tonsured, wearing cope decorated with arabesques and oval morse. Around, · ALEXANDER · · VI · PONT · MAX · (Alexander VI, Supreme Pontiff).

Reverse: The Pope seated on a platform under a canopy, the papal tiara being placed on his head, surrounded by crowds, including prelates, soldiers, and a horseman. In the background, various architecture. In exergue, CORONAT (Crowned).

Rodrigo de Borja was elected pope on August 11, 1492, taking the name Alexander VI (so as not to be confused with Antipope Alexander V). He was crowned on August 26, 1492, in a ceremony filled with splendor and magnificence not seen before. Alexander dies on August 18, 1503, at the age of 72.

The author of the medal is unknown. Several scholars have attributed the work to Caradosso, an attribution which Modesti in general agrees with while noting that there is no documentation of Caradosso in Rome at this time. Hill had also noted this point and states that the piece is in the tradition created by Cristoforo di Geremia in Rome.

References:
Börner 1997, no. 329
Hill 1930, no. 853
Johnson and Martini 1986, nos. 588-590
Modesti 2002, no. 165
Vannel and Toderi 2003, nos. 279-283

EVillageProwler

Cool medal. The Borgia pope and his family were pretty interesting, at least as depicted in the TV show The Borgias.

STLNATS

Another nice addition Joe. Very sensitive portrait and the toning, especially around the legend, really enhances the eye appeal of the obverse.

You didn't mention if this is a cast, which I assume, or struck piece. Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Iosephus

@STLNATS said:
You didn't mention if this is a cast, which I assume, or struck piece.

Yes, it is cast (as were basically all medals of this period, especially of this size and relief).

Iosephus

@EVillageProwler said:
Cool medal. The Borgia pope and his family were pretty interesting, at least as depicted in the TV show The Borgias.

I haven't seen the show, but the Borgias are certainly quite famous (infamous). Here's the other Borgia (Alfons de Borja) that became pope:

291fifth

Even though it is more than 500 years old the level of wear seems high for a medal. I wonder if was carried around as a pocket piece for many years?