210, Lot: 374. Estimate $100. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papal Medals. Pius V (Antonio (Michele) Ghisliere). 1566-1572. Æ Medal (34mm, 24.27 g, 12h). Gian Federigo Bonzagni, engraver. Dated 1571. PIVS · V · PONT · OPT · MAX · ANNO · VI ·, bust left, wearing camauro and mozzetta / DEXTERA TVA DOM PERCVSSIT · INIMICVM ·, the naval battle of Lepanto. Mazio 96; Lincoln 661; cf. DDL pl. XV, 4 (rev.); Whitman 11. EF, die crack on obverse.

From the Luparello Collection.

Having served as Inquisitor General during the pontificate of Pius IV, Pius V further increased the scope and efficiency of the Inquisition and chose to side with the imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots in defiance of the reforms of England’s Queen, Elizabeth I. He issued the bull Regnans in excelsis, which declared her as a heretic and freed England’s subjects from their allegiance to her. He formed an alliance against the Turks, ultimately resulting in the successful naval battle of Lepanto. Pius V is also known for establishing the trend of wearing white rather than the traditional red which had been worn by previous pontiffs.