Every year on June 29, in conjunction with the feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, the Vatican issues an annual medal celebrating what the Pope deemed to be the most significant event of the year. In 1632, during the eleventh year of his reign, Urban VIII chose to boast Rome’s military and economic prowess, by highlighting the improvements to the fortifications at Civitavecchia, a naval base and a trade hub, on the celebratory medal. Though the reverse inscription claims the renovations have rendered the port complete, NVNC RE PERFECTO [It is now perfect], future papal administrations continued to fortify the port.
Object Description
88 URBAN VIII Barberini, Pope 1623-44 1632
Obv. Bust to right, wearing cope. Around, VRBANVS* VIII* PONT* MAX * A * VIIII; on truncation, M . DC . XXXII . ; below truncation, A . ASTESSANO . F
Rev. Aerial view of the port of Civitavecchia flanked by two bees. Around, NVNC RE PERFECTO
Gilt bronze, struck, 43 mm.
New fortifications of the port of Civitavecchia.
Bibl.: Mazio, no. 193; Venuti, p. 232, no. 25; Bonnani, p. 586, no. 24; Forrer 8, p. 309; Bertolotti, pp. 221, 222; Martinori, fasc. xiv, p. 90 (records paying six scudi to A. Astesano for expenses of trip to Civitavecchia to take the plan for the reverse of the medal, made for the festival of Saints Peter and Paul); p. 60 (obverse designed by G. Mola); Bulgari i, p. 79 (record of the assay of the medal in gold, 12 July 1632); Bartolotti, no. E.632; Houston, no. 248 (very similar medal with obverse by Mola, dated 1634).