Lot 123: Niccolò di Forzore Spinelli, called Niccolò Fiorentino (1430-1514) Antonio Geraldini, bronze medal, 66.5mm., a fine contemporary cas...

Niccolò di Forzore Spinelli, called Niccolò Fiorentino (1430-1514)
Antonio Geraldini, bronze medal, 66.5mm., a fine contemporary cast, rich medium brown patina, pierced at 12 o'clock


Obverse: bust of Geraldini in profile to the right, with thick curly hair, wearing round cap and pleated gown, ANTONIVS · GERALDINVS · PONTIFICIVS · LOGOTHETA · FASTORVM · VATES

Reverse: a laureate and draped female figure (Ecclesia) standing, head in profile to left, swinging a censer in her right hand and holding a cornucopia in her left, ·RELIGIO · SANCTA · around, · OP ·NI · FO · SP · FL · below
Antonio Geraldini of Amelia (1457-1488), was crowned poet-laureate in 1479 and appointed protonotary (logotheta) by Pope Innocent VIII. He was a colleague of the Spanish diplomat Inigo Lopez de Mendoza, count of Tendella and first Marquess of Mondejar, and travelled with him to Rome in 1486 when Mendoza was appointed Spanish ambassador by Ferdinand and Isabella. Both men were to feature on medals by Niccolo Fiorentino, and it is assumed that the artist was also in Rome at this time.

Over 150 medals have been attributed to Fiorentino, and yet he appears to have signed only five, of which this is one.

References
Armand I, 84,2; Hill 924