210, Lot: 401. Estimate $100. Sold for $111. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papal Medals. Clement IX (Giulio Rospigliosi). 1667-1669. Æ Medal (30mm, 16.77 g, 12h). Dated year 1 (1667/8). CLEM · IX PONT · MAX · A · I, bust right, wearing camauro, mozzetta, and pallium / PROTECTOR NOSTER ·, St. Peter seated slightly left, holding key and raising hand in benediction; · ROMÆ · in exergue. Mazio 285; Lincoln 1253; cf. DDL pl. XXXIV, 9 (rev.). Superb EF.

From the Luparello Collection.

Born to a noble family in Pistoia, Clement XI had a brief papacy lasting less than two years. Having previously received an education in philosophy, he was a man of artistic talents. He wrote poetry, religious dramas, and even one of the earliest comedic operas. Of further interest his pursuit of the arts, he opened the first public opera house in Rome.