Object Description
18 PAUL II Barbo, Pope 1464-71
Obv. Bust to left, tonsured, wearing cope. Around, PAVLVS . II . VENETVS . . PONT MAX .
Rev. The pope, with cardinals, seated at left on a dais, blesses the faithful, who kneel to kiss his toe. In exergue, . AVDIENTIA . PVBLICA . | . PONT . MAX .
Bronze, 39 mm.
Medals of this type were found in the walls of the Palazzetto of San Marco. Paul II commissioned a large number of medals of himself for the foundations of buildings, for which his enemies took him to task. With Paul II begins the official series of commemorative medals of the popes.
Bibl.: Corpus, no. 766; Arm. 2, p. 33, 13; Supino, no. 182; Brescia 2, p. 2, no. 17; Bonnani, pp. 75-76, no. 6; Tresor Ital. I, pl. 23, 1 ; Foville, pp. 447-48 (dates the reverse 1466-70); Hill-Paul 2, no. 24, pl. 12; Weiss, p. 61 (suggests the date 1466-67 for the reverse)
