210, Lot: 353. Estimate $150. Sold for $175. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papal Medals. Innocent VIII (Giovanni Battista Cybo). 1484-1492. Æ Medal (44mm, 40.84 g, 12h). · INNOCENTIVS · · VIII · PONT · MAX, bust right, wearing tiara and mantum / ECCE · SIC · BENEDICETVR · HOMO, Innocent, seated left on throne, bestowing blessing upon the Duke of Calabria, kneeling right; ROMA in exergue. Mazio 26; Lincoln 403; DDL pl. III, 5. Superb EF.

From the Luparello Collection.

The son of a Roman Senator, Innocent VIII was more concerned with the selling of Church offices and the marriage arrangements of his own family than the governing and administering of the papal states, which reached the point of chaos upon his death. He did, however, issue the bull Summis desiderantes, which instigated severe measures against heresy as well as confirming Tomas de Torquemada as grand inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition.