Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 18. Estimate CHF400.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF450. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Italy. Francesco Querini. Died c. 1563. Medal (Bronze, 34mm, 26.95 g 12), an early cast example, by Giovanni da Cavino (1500-1570), c. 1540 (?). Original legend obliterated from the die Bare-headed, bearded and draped bust of Querini to right, in classical style. Rev. PERPETVA SOBOLES (= unbroken lineage) She wolf standing right, head turned back to left to suckle the Roman Twins. Attwood 284. Pollard, Bargello, 770. Voltolina 441. An attractive piece with a brownish-gold patina. Very fine.

Ex Künker 141, 19 June 2008, 4409 and Baldwin’s 39, 11 October 2004, 1944.

Querini was a distinguished Venetian who was a senator, soldier, poet, orator and a procurator of S. Marco. The original medal bore his name, FRANC QVIRINVS on the obverse, erased slightly later so that it could be used to commemorate another individual (often Alessandro d’Medici whom he vaguely resembled).