ITALY. Collalto. Giovanni Battista II, Count, b. 1514-after 1570. Medal (Bronze, 36 mm, 38.55 g, 6 h), 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, helmeted and flanked by a vase and a sword, on the left, and, on the right, a palm branch, a cross and a coil dragon; on ribbons, an uncertain motto, here mostly illegible. Attwood 958. TV xvi 2160. Voltolina 513. Rare. Attractive and clear with a dark tan patina. Minor marks, otherwise, very fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant and from a European collection, ex Nomisma 56, 17 October 2017, 580 and Spink 7010, 29 March 2007, 279.

Giovanni Battista was born into a Venetian noble family, and, in his time, was well-known as an antiquary. This explains the curiously undecipherable motto on the ribbons on the reverse: its obscurity must be due to the intellectual flavour of the time, which prized riddle-like mottos only understood by a select few.