Sale: Triton V, Lot: 2388. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002.  Sold For $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papal States. Pius IX. MDCCCLIV (1854). Æ 82mm Medal. I. Bianchi, sculptor. PIUS IX PONT. MAX., capped bust left, wearing hooded habit and stole / PIVS IX P. M. BASILICAM PAVLI APOST AB INCENDIO REFECTAM SOLEMNI RITV CONSECRAVIT IV ID DEC. MDCCCLIV, interior view of St. Paul's Basilica upon its consecration, after destruction by fire on 15 July 1823; AL POLETTI ARCH INV in exergue. Molinari Collection 216; Europese Penningen 1577 var. (Æ). EF, toned, a few scratches or scrapes // Lot also includes: Pius IX. Anno I (1846). Æ 57mm Medal. P. Girometti, engraver. PIVS IX PONTIFEX MAXIMVS ANNO I., capped bust wearing stole right / OPT. PRINCIPI AVCTORI FELICITATIS PVB. PROVINCIAE VNIVERSAE AERE COLLATO, VINCET LEO/ DE/ TRIBV IVDA in oak wreath. Europese Penningen 1557 var. (Æ). EF, toned brown with irridescence // Pius IX. MDCCCLXIX (1869). Æ 47mm Medal. Vatican Eccumenical Council. C. Voigt, engraver. PIVS IX P. M. CONCILIVM OECVMEN VAT INCHOANS, capped bust left, wearing hooded habit and stole / SVB TVVM PRÆSIDIVM, The Virgin enthroned with the infant Christ upon a crescent, within the clouds. Molinari Collection -; Europese Penningen -. EF, brown toning // Gregory XVI. MDCCCXLII (1842). Æ 57mm. Ios. Cerbara, engraver. Hospital of Archangel Michael steamship on river Tiber, buildings behind; GREGORIO XVI PONT MAX/PARENTI PVBLICO in exergue / Eleven line inscription. Mazzio 649. EF, brown toning, light nicks. LOT SOLD AS IS, NO RETURN. Four (4) medals in lot. ($300)

The 82mm Medal is an exceptional example of Papal artistry, and a paragon of sculptural and medallic art. The incuse center of the reverse decends 8mm from the rim, rendering actual space to heighten the perspective. To compensate for the pitfalls of such a high-relief medal, the die is alligned such that the negative space of the reverse corresponds exactly with the high-point of the obverse bust. The reverse is accurate down to the moulding and hints at parietal inscriptions, the end of the transcept is rendered in sharp, fine detail.