18th Century Record of the Vatican Holdings
Strong in Roman Medallions

Triton XXI, Lot: 873. Estimate $20000. Sold for $32500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

A collection of sulfur casts produced after coins and medals in the Vatican Cabinet. 18th century. A remarkable group of over 500 sulfur casts of holdings from the Vatican Medagliere, likely produced in the later 18th century and certainly before 1797, when a number of the original pieces were transferred to France as part of the Treaty of Tolentino. The collection is primarily comprised of imperial issues, but also includes casts of Greek and Roman Provincial coins. Of particular note are the Roman medallions, many of which replicate unique and extremely rare types (at least one medallion of Hadrian is now lost and otherwise known only from an inferior cast in the British Museum). All coins are housed in original wooden trays that have been hand-numbered to coincide with three manuscripts, each written in Italian and providing brief descriptions of the types. An important offering of great historical interest, and an ideal lot for a museum or a specialist in Roman medallions. Some casts broken/repaired, otherwise as made.

For photographs of the collection and scans of the manuscripts, click here.