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Costanzo Sforza
Giovanni Francesca Enzola (active 1456–1478)
Italian
Renaissance
1475
Place of Manufacture: Italy
Medium/Technique
Metal; cast bronze
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 78 mm, 160 gm (3 1/16 in., 5.64 oz.)
Credit Line
Gift of Martin Brimmer
Accession Number87.83
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
Catalogue Raisonné
Hill 294.
Kress 97.
DescriptionCircular medal of Costanzo Sforza, lord of Pesaro.
Obverse: Profile bust of Costanzo Sforza looking to proper right, wearing armor; inscribed at edge (difficult to read) "CONSTANTIVS·SFORTIA·DE·ARAGONIA·DI·ALEXAN·SFOR·FIL·PISAVRENS·PINCEPS·AETATIS·AN·XXVII".
Reverse: The castle of Pesaro, three-quarters perspective with a tower at each of its four corners and one at center; inscribed at edge (difficult to read) "INEXPVGNABILE·CASTELLVM·CONSTANTIVM·PISAVRENSE·SALVTI·PVBILICAE·M CCCC LXXV" and "IO·FR·PARMEN ["N" reversed]". Reverse is heavily abraided; much of castle's detail and background is not preserved. Did have shield with Sforza arms over gateway, men with torches on towers, and boats in background.
Obverse: Profile bust of Costanzo Sforza looking to proper right, wearing armor; inscribed at edge (difficult to read) "CONSTANTIVS·SFORTIA·DE·ARAGONIA·DI·ALEXAN·SFOR·FIL·PISAVRENS·PINCEPS·AETATIS·AN·XXVII".
Reverse: The castle of Pesaro, three-quarters perspective with a tower at each of its four corners and one at center; inscribed at edge (difficult to read) "INEXPVGNABILE·CASTELLVM·CONSTANTIVM·PISAVRENSE·SALVTI·PVBILICAE·M CCCC LXXV" and "IO·FR·PARMEN ["N" reversed]". Reverse is heavily abraided; much of castle's detail and background is not preserved. Did have shield with Sforza arms over gateway, men with torches on towers, and boats in background.
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge (difficult to read) "CONSTANTIVS·SFORTIA·DE·ARAGONIA·DI·ALEXAN·SFOR·FIL·PISAVRENS·PINCEPS·AETATIS·AN·XXVII".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "INEXPVGNABILE·CASTELLVM·CONSTANTIVM·PISAVRENSE·SALVTI·PVBILICAE·M CCCC LXXV" and "IO·FR·PARMEN ["N" reversed]".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "INEXPVGNABILE·CASTELLVM·CONSTANTIVM·PISAVRENSE·SALVTI·PVBILICAE·M CCCC LXXV" and "IO·FR·PARMEN ["N" reversed]".
ProvenanceBy 1887, Martin Brimmer; 1887, gift of Martin Brimmer to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 1, 1887)