Object Description
82 PAUL V Borghese, Pope 1605-21 1614
Obv. Bust to left, in cope. Around, PAVLVS . V . PONT . MAX . AN . VIIII . ; below, I . AMORI .
Rev. The facade of Saint Peter's with bell towers. Around, . IN . HONOREM . PRINCIPIS . APOST . ; in exergue, . ET . PORTAE . INFI . NO . | . PVALEBVT .
Bronze, struck, 38 mm.
Paul V commissioned Carlo Maderno to add towers to his facade of Saint Peter's in 1612. This medal shows the basilica as projected with towers. They were not completed, but were built as far as the substructure which forms the two end bays of the facade. See no. 83 for a medal of 1608 showing the facade without these substructures. The reverse inscription is from Matthew 16:18.
Bibl.: Forrer 4, p. 153; Brescia 2, p. 14, no. 185; Mazio, no. 172; Venuti, p. 209, no. 10; Bonnani, p. 507, no. 7; Bonnani, Tempio Vaticano, p. 145; Martinori, fasc. xiii, p. 112.
