Not currently on display at the V&A

Medal

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

This bronze medal depicts Julius III who served as Pope from 1550 to 1555. On the obverse side he is shown to the right, bare-headed, wearing a cope. On the reverse side there is an image of the facade of St Peter's at Rome.

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, 16th century, Pope Julius III, St Peter's Rome.
Physical description
Medal, bronze, struck with a die. Julius III. (Giammaria del Monte San Savino), b. 1487: elected Pope in 1550: d. 1555. Obv.: IVLIVS. III. PONT. MAX. AN. IVBILEI. Bust to right, wearing a cope and bare-headed. Rev.: AN. IOBILAEO. M. D. L. The facade of St Peter's Rome. In the exergue:- PETRO. APOST. PRINC. C.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 1.75in
Object history
Bought for 5s.
Subject depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This bronze medal depicts Julius III who served as Pope from 1550 to 1555. On the obverse side he is shown to the right, bare-headed, wearing a cope. On the reverse side there is an image of the facade of St Peter's at Rome.

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. 163.
Collection
Accession number
1236-1893

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Record createdJanuary 5, 2009
Record URL
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