The Most Expensive: Renaissance Medals
Today we go back to the Renaissance period, the golden age of medal art. Which ten pieces achieved the highest prices on the market? One stands out by far but the others are very impressive, too.
01image00002Silver medal by Louis Lepère, Jean Lepère and Nicolas de Florence, 1493 (probably minted in 1502 or 1515). Extremely fine. From Nomos AG auction 5 (2011), 2.
02image00309Gold medal by Andreas Czoch (1519-1581) 1581. Extremely fine. From Numismatica Genevensis auction 4 (2006), 309.
03image01477Medal struck from silver n.d. (ca. 1576), unknown medalist, probably Hubert Gerhard for Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, 1550-1579. Extremely fine. From Künker auction 77 (2002), 1477.
04image00460Bronze medal by Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello (ca. 1393-1455), commemorating Filippo Maria Visconti (Duke of Milan, 1412-47). Very fine. From Morton & Eden auction 97 (2018), 460.
05image00007Bronze medal 1447 by Antonio de Pucci, called Pisanello (ca. 1394-1455) for Cecilia Gonzaga (1426-1451). From Baldwin’s auction 64 (2010), 7.
06image00195Silver medal by Henry Bayse (or Basse) commemorating Henry VIII Tudor (1509-1547), 1545. Very fine. From Numismatica Genevensis auction 12 (2019), 195.
07image00197Silver medal by Leone Leoni for Isabella of Portugal, 1503-1539. From Numismatica Genevensis auction 12 (2019), 197.
08image00956Silver medal in honour of the Holy Trinity, 1566, by Hans Reinhart the Elder. Extremely fine/cast state. From Münzhandlung Sonntag auction 32 (2020), 956.
09image00042Silver medal of Nuremberg for emperor Charles V, 1521. About extremely fine. From Spink auction 355 (2020), 42.
10image00196Gold medal by Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo for Mary Tudor, 1553-1558. From Numismatica Genevensis auction 12 (2019), 196.
