Italy during the Renaissance
Duchy of Urbino
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The family da Montefeltro (Montis feretri) are named after the rock 'Mons Feretrius' near Rimini, where they had acquired a castle. The Montefeltros advanced to imperial vicars. In 1226 Emperor Frederick II appointed them Count of Urbino. Pope Eugene IV elevated them to dukes of Urbino in 1443.
When the House of Montefeltro died out in 1508, the House of Della Rovere took over the Duchy of Urbino. In 1625/31 the duchy finally was absorbed by the Papal States. |
Lordship of Pesaro
Costanzo I Sforza, 1473-83 Giovanni Sforza, 1489-1500, 1503-10 |
Location of Urbino and Pesaro on the map of Italy at 1499
![]() Cast lead medal 1468 by Clemente da Urbino. Ø 87,2 mm. Armand I 47; Kress 100 (94 mm). Obv.: ✶ALTER ADEST CESAR SCIPIO ROMANus ET ALTER·SEV PACEM POPVLIS·SEV FERA· BELLA·DEDIT "Here is a second Caesar and a second Scipio of Rome, either that he gives the people peace, or that he inflicts cruel wars on him" - Portrait in splendid armor with cloak and cap to the left. On the breastplate a lapith fighting a centaur; above two Victorias. Rev.: MARS·FERVS ET·SVMHVM·TANGENS·CYTHEREA TONANTEM·DANT·TIBI REGNA·PARES· ET·TVA·FATA·MOVENT· "The cruel Mars and Venus which touches Jupiter, the Sovereign of the gods, agree to give you the empire and rule your destiny" "Le cruel Mars et Vénus qui touche à Jupiter, le Souverain des dieux, s'accordent pour te donner l'empire et gouverner ta destinée" [Armand] Three stars with the signs of the planets Mars (arrow), Jupiter and Venus. In the middle: INVICTVS FEDERICVS·Comes·VrBINI· / ANNO.Domini.M CCCCLXVIII Below: An eagle balances with outstretched wings a beam, which carries a globe between the symbols of war and peace. Arched below: OPVS CLEME - NTIS VrBINATIS.
![]() Mezza Lira? n. d. (after 1474) Ø 28 mm. CNI 13 500,1; RM[Morosini] III 11,1. Obv.: ✶ FEDERICVS:DVX:VRBINI·MONTIS·FEltrani·Q·COmes· - Back view with head to the left. Rev.: RE·GEneral·CAPItaneus·AC·Sanctae·ROmanea·ECclesiae·CONFALONier Split coat of arms ![]() Bend stripes (Montefeltro), crowned eagle (imperial increase awarded in 1226?), a pal with the insignia of the papal gonfaloniere (tiara with inful over crossed Petri keys).
![]() Bronze casting of an embossed medal. Ø 28 mm. Armand III 164,i; Hill 317. Obv.: FEDERICVS:MONFELTRIVS:VRBINI:DVX· - Back view with head to the left. Rev.: NON MAI on tape, below an ermine on a rock platform. King Ferdinand I of Naples awarded Federico the Order of Ermine "Ordine dell'armellino" in 1474.
![]() Cast bronze medal by Sperandio da Mantova. Ø 89,5 mm. Armand I 71,29; Hill 389; Scher 25. Obv.: ✿DiVi·FEderici·VRBini·DvCiS·MonTEfeltri·AC·DvRantis·CoMitis·REGii·CAPitanei·GEneralis·AC· Sannctea·ROmanae·ECCLesiae·CoNfalonerii·INVICTI "Divine Frederick, Duke of Urbino, Count of Montefeltro and Durante, Royal Captain-General and undefeated Gonfaloniere of the Holy Roman Church" - Bust with hat to the left. Rev.: ·OPVS· - SPERANDEI· "Work by Sperandio" Federico on horseback, swinging a command baton and bent forward as if he were going into battle. The titles show that the medal was created after 1474. "DIVI" could even refer to a posthumous edition, although in 1449 "DIVVS" was already used for Alfonso von Aragon during his lifetime.
Note the space-saving arrangement of letters in the legend on the obverse.
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![]() Ducat n. d., Urbino. Ø ca.22 mm. CNI 13 501,1; RM III 12,1. Obv.: ·GVIDVS· - ·VBaldus·VRbini· - DVX· Rev.: Sanctea·Romanae·Ecclesiae·CAPitaneus·GENeralis·SVB·IVLio·II·PONtifice·MaXimo In 1504 Guidobaldo became Gonfaloniere (standard-bearer) from Pope Julius II of the Della Rovere family.
![]() Quattrino, Urbino. Ø 20 mm, ca.1,11 g. CNI 13 504,25; RM III 13,4. Obv.: +✴GVIDVS✴VBaldus✴VRBINI✴DVX✴ - small bust to the left. Rev.: +✴✴FIDES✴✴SPES✴✴CARITAS✴✴ "Faith Hope Love" - arms of Urbino. The coat of arms
![]() The tiara and Petri key are placed here on two separate fields.
![]() Quattrino, Urbino. Ø 20 mm, 1,13 g. CNI 13 505,34; RM III 13,5; Cavicchi 34. Obv.: +✴GIDVS✴VB✴VRB✴DVX✴ - Bust to the left. Rev.: +FIDES✴ESPES✴ - CARITAS✴ - Crowned coat of arms. The quattrini shown here are made of copper (it. rame).
Quattrini rarely show a ruler.
![]() Quattrino, Casteldurante. Ø 19 mm, 1,05 g. CNI 13 256,23; RM III 15,11. Obv.: GVIDVS✶VB✶VRBINI✶DUX - Bust to the left. With inner circle. Rev.: ✶MONTIS✶FE✶AC✶DVRANT✶CO "Count of Montefeltro and Durante" - crowned coat of arms. The full title, according to Ravegnani Morosini:
SIGNORI di Gubbio, di Fano, di Pesaro, di Senigallia e di Sori, CONTI di Casteldurante, di Fossombrone, di Massa Trabaria, di Mercatello, di Montefeltro e di Sant'Angelo, DUCHI di Urbino e di Camerino.
![]() Quattrino, Fossombrone. Ø 17-19 mm, 0,89 g. CNI 13 343,8; RM III 16,15. Obv.: GVIDVS✶VB✶VRB✶DVX✶ - large childlike head to the left Rev.: +✶DE✶FOROSE - MPRONIO✶✶ "from Fossombrone" - crowned six-part coat of arms. The mints in Casteldurante and Fossombrone operated only in the time of Guidobaldo I.
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![]() Ducato, n. d. (1508-13) Ø ca.22 mm, 3,42 g. CNI 13 508,13; RM I 83,2; Friedb.1198. Obv.: ✶FRANciscus·MAria·VRBIni·DVX·✶ - helmeted bust to the left. Rev.: ··Sanctea·Romanae·Ecclesiae·CAPitaneus·GENeralis·SVB·IVLio·II·PONtifice·MaXimo✼ Crowned eagle holds the coat of arms of Della Rovere.
![]() Ducato, n. d. Ø ca.22 mm, 3,44 g. CNI 13 507,3; RM I 84,3; Friedb.1197. Obv.: ·FRANCiscus·· - ·MAria·VRBINI·DVX· - long-haired bust to the right. Rev.: ·Sanctea·Romanae·Ecclesiae·CAPitaneus·GENeralis·SVB·IVLio·II·PONtifice·MaXimo· Crowned eagle holds the Rovere coat of arms: oak with roots, leaves and acorns.
![]() Bronze medal 1538 on his death. Ø 40,3 mm, 37,1 g. Armand II 119,60 (37 mm). Obv.: FRANCISCVS MARIA DVX METAVRES - Bust left, bearded, bareheaded in ancient armor. Rev.: MORTALIVM IMMORTALITAS Personification of fame flies right carrying two trumpets. |
![]() Ducato. Ø 22,5 mm, 3,42 g. CNI XIII 518,1; RM II 315,1. Specimen in Coin Cabinet, Kunsthistorische Museum, Vienna ![]() Obv.: LAV·MEDICES·DVX·VRBINI· - Bust to the left. Rev.: LEONIS·X·PATRVI·BENEFICIO - "with permission from Leo X" - Medici-arms.
![]() Bronze cast n. d. (19th century ?), unsigned. Ø 79 mm. Obv.: Bust almost from the front, the head turned to the left. Rev.: Surrounded by a laurel wreath : LAV / RENTIVS / MEDICES / VRBINI ETC / DVX
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![]() Ducato. Ø ca.18 mm, 3,32 g. CNI 13 522,16; RM I 87,5. Obv.: GVI· - VBAL· - bärtiger Kopf nach rechts. Rev.: ·VRBINI·DVX·IIII "vierte Herzog von Urbino" im Feld: ·S· / R·E·C / GE expanded: Sanctea Romanae Ecclesiae Capitaneus GEneralis.
![]() Copper pattern: 18 grossi. Ø ca.41 mm, 19,82 g. CNI 13 522,23; RM I 89,11. Obv.: ·GVIDVS VBALDVS·II·VRBINI·DVX·IIII· - bearded bust to the right. Rev.: MONETA·DA·GROSSI·XVIII·LEGHE·X· - crowned eagle holds nine-sided Rovere coat of arms. The legend on the reverse states for the corresponding thaler-like silver coin:
Value (18 grossi) and fineness (10 ounces of fine silver in the pound [12 ounces] = 10/12 = 833/1000).
![]() Testone o medaglia. Ø ca.29 mm, 9,78 g. vgl.: CNI 13 523,29; RM I 90,14. Obv.: ·GVIDVSVBAL·II·VRBINI·DVX·IIII - bearded head to the right. Rev.: ·AQVIlo· - ·FAVOnius· - ·AVSTralis· - ·EVRrus· for the four cardinal directions N, W, S, E. Ground plan of the fortress within which: REÆDIF / ICATOR / ·SENOG / ALLIE "Rebuilders [of the fortress of] Senigallia" The pieces from CNI & RM bears the ligated initials BC of the die cutter under the bust.
The fortress is the Rocca Roveresca di Senigalli
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![]() Prova di testone n. d. by Bartolomeo Campi. AE, Ø 32 mm, 22,03 g. CNI 30var; RM I 91,15. Obv.: ·GVIDVS VBALDVS·II·VRBINI·DVX·IIII - bärtiger Kopf r., ligierte Initialen BC im Nacken. Rev.: ·DVX·GEN - ·EXERCI· - SANC·RO - ·ECCLES Ground plan of the fortress within which: REÆDIF / ICATOR / SENOG / ALLIE·
![]() Stuck bronze medal n. d. (about 1546) by B. Campi. Ø 33,1 mm, 26,40 g. CNI XIII c. 524,31; Attwood 740 (cast); Börner 732. Obv.: ·GVIDVS VBALDVS·II·VRBINI·DVX·IIII - bearded head to the right, ligated signature BC. Rev.: ·GENERAlis· - EXERCItus· - SANCtea·ROmanae· - ECCLESiae· "General of the armies of the Holy Roman Church" - Ground plan of the fortress within which: CVI·NO / VA·SVR / GIT·SE / NOGAL "? new rise Senigallia" |
Lordship of Pesaro
Costanzo I Sforza, 1473-83 Giovanni Sforza, 1489-1500, 1503-10 |
Pesaro came under the rule of the house of Malatesta in the 13th century. The condottiere Alessandro Sforza (brother of Francesco I Sforza, since 1450 Duke of Milan) bought the lordship of Pesaro from the Malatesta in 1445. The time of the Sforza in Pesaro (1445-1512) was followed by the time of the house of Della Rovere in 1513, during which Pesaro came to the Duchy of Urbino becoming its capital. |
![]() Pattern 1/2 Lira in copper. Ø 30 mm, 11,21 g. CNI XIII 430,2; RM III 280,2; Hill(1930) 299e. On the Castello (fortress) at the rocca di Pesaro. The foundation stone was laid in 1474 [RM]. Obv.: CONSTANTIVS SFortia DE ARAGOnia PISAVri Dominus - Armored bust to the left. Rev.: SALVTI ET MEMORIAE CONDIDIT "Create welfare and memory" The Castello (castle) of Pesaro as it should look at first. Costanzo also lists the maternal surname of his wife Camilla d'Aragon in his title,
in order to bring him near a mighty house.
![]() Cast bronze medal 1474 by Gianfrancesco Enzola, Parma. Ø 78,6 mm. Armand I 45,8; Hill(1930)291. On completion of the fortification work at the Roman city bridge to Pesaro. Obv.: CONSTANTIVS·SFORTIA·DE·ARAGONIA·DIvi·ALEXANdri·SFORtiae·FILius·PISAVRENSis· PRINCEPS·AETATIS·ANno XXVII· - Armored bust of the 27-year-old to the left. Rev.: SYDVS MARTIVM "Star belonging to Mars (Planet Mars)" - Armed horsemen pulls in serpentines up to the Castello over a bridge reinforced by two high towers. Costanzo on horseback has just passed the bridge, a lance bearer and a squire in front of him. At one of the bridge towers: CO · SF · / PISA / VRI · / D ·. Under the horse: MCCCCLXXIIII. At the bottom: IOannes FRANciscus PARMENSIS OPUS. The given age matches the date of 1474. The Foglia Bridge shown, built at the time of the Roman
Emperor Trajan, takes up the Via Flaminia. The fort is the castello or "Villa Imperiale". The obverse of the 1474 medal was coupled with two new reverse sides in 1475:
![]() Bronze medal 1475 by Gianfrancesco Enzola, Parma. Ø ca.80 mm. Armand I 45,9; Hill(1930)294; Kress 97; Friedl. 118,7 Obv.: exactly as before. Rev.: INEXPVGNABILE·CASTELLVM·CONSTANTIVM·PISAVRENSE·SALVTI·PVBLICAE· M CCCC L XXXV "Impregnable Castle of Costanzo for the general safety of Pesaros, 1475" The Castello of Pesaro, warriors on the towers, sea in the background. Below engraved: IOannes FRanciscus PARMENsis
![]() Touch the illustration with the cursor in order to see the reverse. Bronze medal 1475 by Gianfrancesco Enzola, Parma. Ø 81 mm, 161,88 g. Armand I 45,10; Hill(1930)292a; Kress 95 (lead cast); Friedlaender 118,8; Börner 100. Specimen in the coincabinet from Statliche Museen zu Berlin ![]() Obv.: exactly like both previous medals. Rev.: QVIER·SECVRITAS·COPIA·MARTIS·HONOS·7[et]·SALVS·PATRIAE·MCCCCLXXV Rider in tournament armor with helmet, shield and lance gallops to the left. Sforza dragon with ring as a crest. A dog under the horse. In the background blooming landscape with the Castello at the top left. Signature below: ·IOannes·FRanciscus·PARMENsis
![]() Medal 1475 by Gianfrancesco Enzola. Ø 76 mm, 175 g. Armand I 45,11; Hill(1930)293; Kress 96. Obv.: CONSTANTIVS SFORTIA DE ARAGONIA·FILIVS·BENEMERITO PARENTI Dicat Dedicat MCCCCLXXV - Armored bust to the left. Rev.: ALEXANDRO·SFORTIAE·DIVI·SFORTIAC·FILIO·IMPERATORI INVICITISSimo Armored bust of Alexandro, Cosnanzo's father, to the left.
Costanzo married Camilla Sforza of Aragon in 1475.
Camilla d'Aragon (daughter of Giovanni Francesco Mariano, Duke of Sessa, and Eleonora d'Aragona)
was after Costanzo's death the regent for her stepson Giovanni Sforza from 1483 to 1489.
![]() Bronze medal n. d. (1483-89) by Sperandio. Ø 82 mm. Armand I 74,43; Hill(1930)399; Kress 130; Börner 146. Obv.: CAMILLA·SFOR·DE·ARAGONIA·MATRONAR·PVDICISSIMA·PISAVRI DOMINA· Bust half to the left. Rev.: ·SIC·ITVR·AD ASTRA· ""thus one journeys to the stars"(Virgil) Female figure sits on the back of a unicorn and beef. She holds a staff and around her arm is a snake with a dragon's head. Below: OPVS·SPERANDEI·. |
![]() Cast bronze medal 1503 by unknown. Ø 73,8 mm, 217,06 g. Armand II 117,49; Hill 302. On his return to Pesaro in 1503. Obv.: *·IOANNES SFORTIA·CONSTANTII·Filius·PISAVRI·ANN·AET·XXXVII·M·D·III· Bust to the right, with long hair and short beard, wearing plate armour over mail. Rev.: PATRIA / RECEPTA "home received (again)" - a broken yoke.
![]() Prova di testone n. d. (1504) Ø 28 mm, 9,45 g. CNI -; RM III 282,3 (dieses Stück). Obv.: ·IOannes·SFortia·CONSTANTII·SFortia·Filius·PISAVRI·7·C· - Bust to the right. Rev.: PATRIA / RECEPTA "home received (again)" - a broken yoke. The issue should have taken place in 1504, when Pope Julius II officially consecrated
the restoration with a bull dated 23 April. [RM III p.281]
![]() Soldo n. d. Copper, Ø 18 mm, 1,16 g. CNI XIII 455,98-116; RM III 284,9. Obv.: *IOANNES·SFORTIA·PISAVRI·DOMinus - Bust right. Rev.: ·PV / BLICAE· / COMMO / DITA / TI· "for the common good and usefulness". L'epigrafe del R. richiama il bando pubblicato il 21 aprile 1498 per informare i cittadini che il principe, viste "le monete che
se usano in questa Cità de Pesaro essere grosse per spendere a minuto ... ha novamente facto fare, & batere denari piccoli" che si possano spendere e ricevere "per el bene, & utile universale (PUBLICAE COMMODITATI)" [RM III p.283] |
Ref.: ![]() • Corpus Nummorum Italicorum [CNI]: Urbino & Pesaro in vol.XIII - CNI-Index ![]() • Ravegnani Morosini, Mario [RM]: Signorie e principati - monete italiane con ritratto, 1450-1796, 1984. Montefeltro: vol.III, p.7-16. Della Rovere: vol.I, p.79 ff. Medici in Urbino: vol.II, p.313-315. • Armand, Alfred : Les Médailleurs Italiens des quinzième et sezième siècles. 3 vol. Paris 1883-87 & online • Hill, G. F. : A Corpus of the Italian Medals of the Renaissance before Cellini. 2 vol. London 1930 • Kress : Renaissance Medals from the Samuel H. Kress Coll. at the Nat. Gallery of Art. 1967 & online • Friedlaender, J. : Die Italienischen Schaumünzen des 15. Jh. (1430-1530). Berlin 1882 & online |