I've been posting on the ancient board for awhile, but I thought I might trot out some of my coins here for a change. I've been focusing my collecting on Italian Renaissance coins, specifically those with dies that can be attributed to an individual Renaissance artist. So far I have coins by Cellini, Francia, Cesati, and Caradossa. Leone Leoni, Galeotti, and Poggini are all on my wantlist. I also consider Paduans by Cavino to fall into this category. Post you Renaissance coins and Paduans (and medals, but especially coins)! For the purpose of this thread let's consider coins minted between 1400-1650 to be "Renaissance," especially if they show classical influence or naturalism, or are from Italy. Without further ado, here are my coins: Papal States.Clement VII (Giuliano de’Medici), 1523-1534, Rome mint. Doppio Carlino, AR 5.01 g. CLEMENS·VII PONT· MAX Bearded bust left with ornate cope with figures of saints and medallion. Rv. Mintmark of Giacomo Balducci. QVARE – DVBITASTI (Matthew 14:31) Christ lifting St. Peter from the Sea. Muntoni 43. Berman 841. Rare. VF, profile of Clement slightly doubled. Dies by Benvenuto Cellini. Alessandro de'Medici (1532-1536) First Duke of Florence. Mezzo giulio. CNI 24/29. MIR 105. AG. g. 1.60 RRR. O: ALEXANDER MED R P FLOREN DVX crowned coat of arms. R: IOANNES BAPTISTA Haloed bust of St. left., with cross and hair shirt. Scratch in the field of R / VF. Dies by Benvenuto Cellini. Papal States. Paul III (1534-1549) gold Scudo d'Oro XF (AU50 NGC) Rome mint, 3.33g, B-905, Fr-65. S PAVLVS VAS | ELECTIONIS, St. Paul standing facing, fleur below, head slightly right with halo, epistles in right hand, sword in left / PAVLVS III | PONT • MAX, pontifical arms. Dies by Benvenuto Cellini. Bologna. John II Bentivoglio (1494-1506). Pattern Testone. 1494. O/ II BONONIENSIS IOANNES BENTIVO LVS. Capped bust to the. R/ B XIMILIANI IMPERATORIS MVNV MCCCCLXXXX IIII. Chim.221. Hill 606. AE 10.96g 29.00mm RR. Original strike. Plugged hole. XF.Dies engraved Francesco Raibolini called Francesco Francia. Duchy of Milan. Galeazzo Maria Sforza (1488-1494) - Testone - Right: armored duke's bust on the right - Reverse: coat of arms surmounted by helmet with crest decorated with crested dragon; on the sides embers with the buckets and initials - gr. 9.56 - Old cabinet toning (CNI V / 171/76) (Crippa II / 197 / 6B) (Biaggi No. 1548) Dies by Cristoforo Foppa called Caradosso. Papal States, Rome. Giulio III (Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte), 1550-1555. Year II 1551-2. Giulio. Ar gr. 3.03. Ø 27.27 mm. Obv. IVLIVS·III - ·P·M·Anno·II Bust with tonsure and embroidered cope to l.; II below. Rev. OMNIA·TVTA· - ·VIDES / ROMA "He sees everything." Virgil’s Aeneid 1:583 Roma as a legionary in armor seated left on the seven hills, holding a laurel wreath; below l., mint master sign A‡C of Bartolomeo Canobio and, to r., ROMA. CNI XV p.430 n.55; Muntoni 16; Berm. 992. Rare. Near VF. Dies likely by Alessandro Cesati, called Grechetto. Galba. AD 68-69. Cast Æ “Sestertius” (32mm, 20.26 g). Paduan type. 1500-1570. Obv: IMP. SER. SVLP. GALBA CAES. AVG. TR. POT. Laureate bust of Galba, r., draped. Rev: The emperor on a platform, l., addressing five soldiers with standards. L. and r., in field, S.C. In exurge, ADLOCVT. Klawans Obverse type 3, reverse type 4. VF. Later cast after Giovanni da Cavino
I have a ton, here is my first example... Kingdom of Hungary AV Dukat 1531 K-B Kremnitz Mint Ferdinand I of Habsburg
I have this one labeled as 1617-1619 German States 3 kreuzer, Paul Sixtus I. Appears to be hammered silver, quite small, thin coin.
Italy, Michele Steno, Venice 1400 - 1413, 1 Ducat (1 Zecchino) 20 mm, 3.54 g Friedberg 1230, Biaggi 2858, Gamberini 137 Obverse: St. Mark standing at left presenting staff with pennant and DVX vertically at top to doge kneeling at right; MICHAEL STEN S./M./V./E/N/E/T/I/ D//V//X// Reverse: full length facingChrist within beaded ellipse lined with stars; SIT•T•XPE•DAT•Q•TV - REGIS• ISTE•DVCA Michele Steno, (Michiel Sten in Venetian Language) was a Venetian statesman who served as the 63rd Doge of Venice from December 1, 1400 until his death on December 26, 1413.
I don't have any by Benvenuto Cellini but here is one by a less famous Italian diecutter, Gaspare Molo PAPAL STATES Rome Urban VIII Quattrino n.d (1623-44) Obv.: VRBANVS._VIII.P.MAX. Tiara and crossed keys over shield with Barberini family arms (3 bees) dividing MOL. GAS. (= Gaspare Mola, dc) Rev.: VIVIT _DEVS (God is living) The Archangel St. Michael, brandishing a sword in his right hand and holding the scales of Justice in his left, tramples on Lucifer lying on ground; in exergue ROMA Berman 1771. CNI XVI, p.373,792v.
I've already admired your avatar, but that Milanese testone is a stunner! The Cellini scudo d'oro is impressive, too. All great stuff. Here is a rather humble French billon douzain of Charles VIII ("the Affable"), which has been in my unsorted and unresearched "cheapo" pile. Just got the ID on it today, with the help of the forums. (Thanks, @Mark Metzger! I had been confused by a misattribution written on the 40-50-year-old 2x2 holder.)
Here's an inexpensive new purchase which is on its way from Europe. France (Duchy of Lorraine): silver "sword" type demi-gros of Antoine the Good, ca. 1508-1544 And another relatively addition (PCGS MS63 - looks better in hand) that's in my current "Eclectic Box" lineup: Lithuania: silver half-groschen of Sigismund II Augustus of Poland, 1550
Here are some "bygones" ... *snif* Medieval Croatia (Ragusa): silver grosso portraying St. Blasius and Christ, ca. 1372-1438 Italy (Venice): silver grosso of Antonio Venier, ca. 1382-1400 Netherlands (Gelderland): "St. John" goldgulden (florin) of Arnold van Egmond, ca. 1423-1472 Belgium (Brabant): gold Carolus d’or (florin) of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, ca. 1521-1545
If one considers 1600 the "cutoff date" for the Renaissance, this one is stretching the envelope and is perhaps a tiny bit late, but I love it and can't resist posting it. German States (Teutonic Order): silver 1/4-thaler of Grand Master Maximilian of Austria, ca. 1615