Lot 01185

ITALY. Ferrara. Alfonso I d’Este, Duke, 1505-1534. Medal (Bronze, 32 mm, 14.92 g), uniface, by a medalist working in Ferrara,, 1502 (?). ALPHONSIVS – ATESTINVS Bust of Alfonso I to right, wearing a soft cap, its rim turned up and ornamented with a medal, and a cuirass. Rev. Blank. Bargello 52. Hill 121. Pollard, Bargello I, 30. Rare. A very fine contemporary cast, with a beautiful brown patina. Owner’s initials, MH, carefully scratched on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant and that of Michael Hall, 3, Baldwin’s 67, 28 September 2010, 2224.

It has been suggested that this medal was created as a gift to be given to guests at Alfonso’s marriage to Lucretia Borgia in 1502.