We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: 1231-1893
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Medal

Medal
end of 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze medal depicts Leo X who served as Pope from 1513 to 1521. On the obverse side he is shown to the right bare-headed, wearing a cope. On the reverse side the Papal arms are represented.

The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by doublesided Roman coins, which usually had a portrait of the emperor on one side and Latin inscriptions on both sides.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleMedal
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, Leo X, papal arms, G. Paladino. Italy, end of 16th century.
Physical description
Medal of bronze, struck with a die. Leo X. (Giovanni de Medici), b. 1475: elected Pope in 1513. d. 1521. Obv.: LEO. X. PONTIFEX. MAX. Bust to right, wearing a cope and bareheaded. Rev.: GLORIA ET HONORE CORONASTI EVM * ROMA * The papal arms.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 1.68in
Object history
Bought for 2s.
Subject depicted
Summary
This bronze medal depicts Leo X who served as Pope from 1513 to 1521. On the obverse side he is shown to the right bare-headed, wearing a cope. On the reverse side the Papal arms are represented.

The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by doublesided Roman coins, which usually had a portrait of the emperor on one side and Latin inscriptions on both sides.
Bibliographic reference
List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1893. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1894. pp. 162.
Collection
Accession number
1231-1893

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 5, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSON