DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68735#0197
COIN-LIKE MEDALS
abbreviation VE was accidentally omitted after DO*, an
error which was corrected in the next version; and, as
no. 665 shows, SIR! is also doubtless an error for SER
(enissim)I. The title is thus Serenissimi Ducatus Dominii
Venetiarum Armorum Capitaneus Generalis, and Foville’s
speculations about place-names such as Sirico and Domi-
cella are unnecessary (Rev. Num., 1911, p. 450). The
agreement of Orsini with the ‘ Serenissimus Princeps et
Excellentissimus Dominus Augustinus Barbadigo Dei
gratia dux et inclitum Dominium Venetiarum', dated 30 Oct.
1495, giving him the title of Gubernator Generalis of the
Venetian army, confirms the above explanation (G. Brus-
capuli, Monogr. star, della Contea di Pitigliano, ed. G. C. Fa-
briziani, 1906, p. 637).
668. Obv. Similar to no. 664; bust from same
model; inscription remade to NIC*VRS*PET«ET
NOL • CO/VES SIR?I • DV • DO • VE • ARMOR? • CAP •
GNRALS • Pearled border.
Rev. Similar to no. 664, from same model; the
general’s baton shortened, inscription entirely
remade to NIC a vrs a petiliani y et nolae a
OF THE SFORZA 668
comesasiradvadoaveaarmoraCyGEy Pearled
border.
Arm. II, 64,17 (43 mm.), with misreading SIR on obv. Van
Mieris, i, p. 415. N. Chr. (1925), p. 384, no. 5. [h. Pl. 116.]
(«) Berlin, 42 mm. (Z>) Brescia (Brozzoni), 43 mm.
Rizz.,no.49i. (c) Florence, 42mm. Sup.,no.i97. Fair.
(d) Milan (Med. Mun.), f 42-5 mm. (e,f) Paris, 44-5 and
41-5 mm. (the larger has a broad rim). Rev. Num.
(1911), p. 450, Pl. xi, 4. (gj Claudius Cote, f 42-5 mm.
(A) Henry Oppenheimer, f 42 mm. N. Chr., loc. cit.,
Pl. xvii, 4. (/) Formerly Spitzer, Sale Catal., iv, p. 171,
no. 71 (41 mm.): description probably inaccurate.
On this version the error of the omission of VE has
been corrected.
Of the above medals nos. 664 and 668 have been dis-
cussed by J. de Foville (Rev. Num., 19n, pp. 449 f.), who
would attribute their origin to Caradosso. He thinks that
Caradosso may have seen Orsini between 6 July and
6 Aug. 1495, between the battles of Fornovo and Novara.
The medal no. 664, on which Orsini is not yet in the
Venetian employ, is the only one for which the claim of
Caradosso can be considered; the others are merely new
editions by a hand that cannot be identified.
There is also a medal, of later origin, described among
the pieces of uncertain allocation (no. 1183).
COIN-LIKE MEDALS OF THE SFORZA
THESE fall into a number of series. The first consists of a few small pieces which
may well be contemporary with the persons represented, and differ little in general
appearance from testoons of the period, except that they are thicker and may be struck
in bronze. The second consists of large, highly ornamented pieces, bearing portraits
for the most part based on actual coins. The obverse and reverse dies of these are
often combined in a way which conflicts with chronology and history. It is unlikely,
judging from the uniformity of their style, that any of them were made before the time
of Louis XII; and it may be conjectured that those representing him and his pre-
decessors were all made to his order, as a kind of political manifesto associating him
with the Sforzas. The members of this series are connected by general similarity of
detail, but fall into two groups according to their ornamentation. A third series,
representing Massimiliano Sforza, Francois I of France, and Francesco II Sforza, and
consisting of pieces similarly connected by the details of their design, may be con-
temporary with the persons represented, but are separated from the first series because
they seem to have been suggested by the second.
These pieces may all have been made at the Mint; indeed the interlacing of obverse
and reverse dies suggests that many of them can hardly have been made elsewhere.
But in the absence of definite information it would be hazardous to attempt attributions
to any particular designer or engraver.
It is probable that Lomazzo (Trattato, Bk. VII, cap. 25, ed. 1844, iii, p. 214) was
thinking of some medals of these series when he wrote that Caradosso made portrait
medals of Galeazzo Maria, Giangaleazzo, and Lodovico Sforza. (Cf. Arm. 1,108, 6, and
109, 7.)
In the following descriptions I use the word ‘ engrailed ’ for the ornamental border of
which the line is marked by fine, closely set serrations on both sides; and ‘fillet’ for
the plain circle set at intervals with small globules. The reference ‘ Gnecchi ’ is to
Le Monete di Milano, by F. and E. Gnecchi, Milan, 1884.
[ i73]
abbreviation VE was accidentally omitted after DO*, an
error which was corrected in the next version; and, as
no. 665 shows, SIR! is also doubtless an error for SER
(enissim)I. The title is thus Serenissimi Ducatus Dominii
Venetiarum Armorum Capitaneus Generalis, and Foville’s
speculations about place-names such as Sirico and Domi-
cella are unnecessary (Rev. Num., 1911, p. 450). The
agreement of Orsini with the ‘ Serenissimus Princeps et
Excellentissimus Dominus Augustinus Barbadigo Dei
gratia dux et inclitum Dominium Venetiarum', dated 30 Oct.
1495, giving him the title of Gubernator Generalis of the
Venetian army, confirms the above explanation (G. Brus-
capuli, Monogr. star, della Contea di Pitigliano, ed. G. C. Fa-
briziani, 1906, p. 637).
668. Obv. Similar to no. 664; bust from same
model; inscription remade to NIC*VRS*PET«ET
NOL • CO/VES SIR?I • DV • DO • VE • ARMOR? • CAP •
GNRALS • Pearled border.
Rev. Similar to no. 664, from same model; the
general’s baton shortened, inscription entirely
remade to NIC a vrs a petiliani y et nolae a
OF THE SFORZA 668
comesasiradvadoaveaarmoraCyGEy Pearled
border.
Arm. II, 64,17 (43 mm.), with misreading SIR on obv. Van
Mieris, i, p. 415. N. Chr. (1925), p. 384, no. 5. [h. Pl. 116.]
(«) Berlin, 42 mm. (Z>) Brescia (Brozzoni), 43 mm.
Rizz.,no.49i. (c) Florence, 42mm. Sup.,no.i97. Fair.
(d) Milan (Med. Mun.), f 42-5 mm. (e,f) Paris, 44-5 and
41-5 mm. (the larger has a broad rim). Rev. Num.
(1911), p. 450, Pl. xi, 4. (gj Claudius Cote, f 42-5 mm.
(A) Henry Oppenheimer, f 42 mm. N. Chr., loc. cit.,
Pl. xvii, 4. (/) Formerly Spitzer, Sale Catal., iv, p. 171,
no. 71 (41 mm.): description probably inaccurate.
On this version the error of the omission of VE has
been corrected.
Of the above medals nos. 664 and 668 have been dis-
cussed by J. de Foville (Rev. Num., 19n, pp. 449 f.), who
would attribute their origin to Caradosso. He thinks that
Caradosso may have seen Orsini between 6 July and
6 Aug. 1495, between the battles of Fornovo and Novara.
The medal no. 664, on which Orsini is not yet in the
Venetian employ, is the only one for which the claim of
Caradosso can be considered; the others are merely new
editions by a hand that cannot be identified.
There is also a medal, of later origin, described among
the pieces of uncertain allocation (no. 1183).
COIN-LIKE MEDALS OF THE SFORZA
THESE fall into a number of series. The first consists of a few small pieces which
may well be contemporary with the persons represented, and differ little in general
appearance from testoons of the period, except that they are thicker and may be struck
in bronze. The second consists of large, highly ornamented pieces, bearing portraits
for the most part based on actual coins. The obverse and reverse dies of these are
often combined in a way which conflicts with chronology and history. It is unlikely,
judging from the uniformity of their style, that any of them were made before the time
of Louis XII; and it may be conjectured that those representing him and his pre-
decessors were all made to his order, as a kind of political manifesto associating him
with the Sforzas. The members of this series are connected by general similarity of
detail, but fall into two groups according to their ornamentation. A third series,
representing Massimiliano Sforza, Francois I of France, and Francesco II Sforza, and
consisting of pieces similarly connected by the details of their design, may be con-
temporary with the persons represented, but are separated from the first series because
they seem to have been suggested by the second.
These pieces may all have been made at the Mint; indeed the interlacing of obverse
and reverse dies suggests that many of them can hardly have been made elsewhere.
But in the absence of definite information it would be hazardous to attempt attributions
to any particular designer or engraver.
It is probable that Lomazzo (Trattato, Bk. VII, cap. 25, ed. 1844, iii, p. 214) was
thinking of some medals of these series when he wrote that Caradosso made portrait
medals of Galeazzo Maria, Giangaleazzo, and Lodovico Sforza. (Cf. Arm. 1,108, 6, and
109, 7.)
In the following descriptions I use the word ‘ engrailed ’ for the ornamental border of
which the line is marked by fine, closely set serrations on both sides; and ‘fillet’ for
the plain circle set at intervals with small globules. The reference ‘ Gnecchi ’ is to
Le Monete di Milano, by F. and E. Gnecchi, Milan, 1884.
[ i73]