ITALY. Collalto. Giovanni Battista II, Count of Collalto, 1514 - after 1570. Medal (Bronze, 36 mm, 49.77 g, 6 h), a struck original, by Gianfederico Bonzagna (also known as Federico Parmense, after 1507-1588), Rome, 1560. IO.BAPTISTA. II.DE.COLLALTO. CO.ET.C. Bareheaded and cuirassed bust of Giovanni Battista to left, with short beard; below truncation, in small letters, F.P. Rev. POST.TENEBRAS. SPERO.LVCEM. M.D.L.X (= after darkness I hope for the light ) Elaborate mantled arms of Collalto, surmounted by a helmet, with a crest formed by two upraised arms flanking a crowned eagle with wings open in display, and flanked, on the left, by a vase and a sword, and, on the right, by a palm branch, a cross and a winged dragon, coiled up with his tail in his mouth; in tiny letters on the ribbons curling around the sword and the palm branch, AL-EVTM-ANTE-AVT / O...N-S P VOR. Attwood 958. Toderi Vannel 2160. Voltolina 513. A particularly attractive, sharply struck and impressive example, with a fine portrait an a lovely tan-brown patina. Extremely fine.

From the Aviz Collection.

This piece, very possibly the finest known example, commemorates an obscure nobleman who was born in Venice and, apparently, was a "celebrated antiquary". That may well explain the complicated iconography on the reverse: especially the apparently two-legged dragon - a wyvern - with his tail in his mouth in the manner of the ouroboros serpent. This creature actually may be a symbol for mercury, since he appears in just this way in L. Jennis' De Lapide Philosophico of 1625. It also suggests that the seemingly incomprehensible motto appearing on the ribbons swirling around the reverse types is intended to have some mystical meaning.