ITALY, Papale (Stato pontificio). Alexander VI (Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja). 1492-1503. AR Grosso (24mm, 2.51 g, 12h). Rome mint; im: rosette. Pier Paolo, mintmaster. · ALEXANDER · VI · PON · MAX · (annulet stops), coat-of-arms surmounted by crossed keys and papal tiara; all within oblong quadrelobe / · S · · PETRVS · · S · PAVLVS ·, Ss. Paolo and Pietro standing facing, each holding gospels, and holding sword and key, respectively; rosette between; · ROMA · in exergue. CNI XV 49; Muntoni 16; Berman 532. VF, toned.
Born in the Valencian town of Xàtiva and nephew of Pope Calixtus III, Alexander VI found himself in many increasingly important roles within the Church, culminating in his election to the papacy in 1492 upon the death of Innocent VIII. Fathering four children from before his time as Pope, he found many roles for them to serve, even having his daughter Lucrezia step in during his absence. He issued the bull Inter Caetera, which divided newly-found territories in the Americas among Spain and Portugal by a demarcation line.
