Sigismondo Malatesta by de' Pasti

Matteo de' Pasti (fl. 1441-1468). Portrait Medal of Sigismondo Malatesta (1417-68), lord of Rimini.

79.0 x 78.4 mm. 161 grams. Bronze. Scher 13, Pollard 29, Kress 60. Medal turn. Unpierced, A fine and early cast with rich and even brown patina. Some verdigris is noted among reverse design elements. Obverse fields fairly smooth, reverse fields a bit more granular and unchased. Some scrapes within castle gate at central reverse, no marks of consequence. A particularly attractive piece. Malatesta was among the most celebrated and controversial military leaders of his generation, but was embarrassed and excommunicated by Pope Pius II in 1460, two years before Papal forces mortally damaged his reputation on the battlefield.

From the Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals. Earlier from Sotheby's (London), April 1996, lot 826; the Jonathan H. Kagan Collection of Renaissance Medals.

Estimate: $6000.00 - $9000.00