Rare Lauffer Restitution Biographical Bronze Medal Pope Clement VII 1523-1534
Description: A beautiful and rather scarce bronze medal struck in Nurnberg by Caspar Gottlieb Lauffer as part of his restitution biographical series of papal medals. This is the restitution biographical medal for Pope Clement VII the 219th pope who ruled the papal state from 1523 till his death in 1534. The medal shows the image of the bust of Pope Clement VII facing right on the obverse. The reverse has a biographical sketch of the pope in Latin. The obverse shows the bust of the pope wearing a decorated collar facing right with the inscription "CLEMENS.VII.PONT.MAX." along the edge surrounding the pontiff's bust. Both obverse and reverse have beaded edge. A beautiful biographical papal medal in great condition. The medal has a beautiful brown red coloring with very nice eye appeal. The edge of the medal is smooth, rounded, and unmarked. A nice-looking medal, which would make a worthy addition to any collection. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Uncertain but struck most likely late 1600s to early 1700s.
Origin: Nurnberg Germany.
Artist: Unknown, but the medal was struck by Casper Gottlieb Lauffer.
Weight and Size: The medal weighs ~33.3 grams, is ~41 millimeters in diameter, and ~2 millimeters thick at the edge.
Maker: Struck by the Mint of Nurnberg.
Marks: Unmarked.
Reference: Modesti 2321 (the one shown by Modesti is a Zinc example).
Condition: The medal is in what I would characterize as about uncirculated condition with nice rich red-brown coloring. The medal shows minimum wear, some minor scratching and minimum marking to the surface. The medal shows minor wear to the coloring especially on the reverse and no observable problems. A nice and scarce medal, which would make a great addition to your collection. Please view photos for additional condition information and to appreciate the beauty of the piece.
