Roman School (c. 1540), Paul III, Farnese (Pope, 1534-49), bronze-gilt medal, PAVLVS III PONT MAX, bust right wearing cape embroidered with panels of SS. Peter and Paul and a morse with the facing head of Christ (?), rev., the Griffin of Perugia fighting a serpent; within olive wreath border, 61.4mm (Armad II, 166, 6; Toderi & Vannel 2511; Pollard 437 = Kress 381), minor scratches in obverse field, gilding worn in places on the rim, finely chased, an extremely fine contemporary cast. Toderi & Vannel state that the medal was made in 1540 when Perugia was placed under the direct control of the Papal States and Paul III commissioned Antonio da Sangallo to erect the Rocca Paolina, a symbol of Papal power over the city. It used to be thought to refer to the Pope’s excommunication of Henry VIII in 1538 and as such is recorded in Medallic Illustrations (MI I, 39/31). Provenance: Morton & Eden 20, 27 June 2006, lot 400; Stack collection, Morton & Eden 41, 9 December 2009, lot 205.
Estimate: 4000 - 6000