1659 Papal Bronze Medal Pope Alexander VII A V Church of San Nicola NGC MS61
Description: A beautiful bronze medal issued by the Vatican. The medal is to commemorate the Church of San Nicola erected by Pope Alexander VII at the Castel Gandolfo. Alexander VII was pope in the period 1655-1667. This papal state bronze medal has the image of the bust of Pope Alexander VII facing right on the obverse. The reverse shows the images of the two-story facade of the Church San Nicola in Castel Gandolfo. The obverse shows the bust of the pope facing right with the inscription "ALEXAN.VII.PONT.MAX.A.V." along the edge surrounding the pontiff's bust and the initials "G M." (for Gaspare Morone) in raised lettering under it. The reverse has a legend "DILEXI DOMINE DE/COREM DOMUS.TUAE" surrounding the image in the center. This medal's reverse is similar to the medal listed as 87 in Nathan Whitman’s book, Papal Medals from the Age of the Baroque, for year IIII where the words "S: NICOLAO" is shown in the exergue (this medal's reverse has nothing noted in exergue). A beautiful original papal medal showing a die problem appearing as a hump in the center of the reverse and suggesting that this an early restrike from original die, which is starting to fall apart. The medal has a beautiful brown appearance and is in mint state. It is much better than the photos suggest having chocolate tones with very nice eye appeal. The edge of the medal is reeded. The medal is graded by NGCas Mint Sate (MS) 61 Brown (BN). 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: The medal is dated 1659.
Origin: Vatican.
Engraver: Gaspare Morone.
Weight and Size: The medal is ~37 millimeters in diameter.
Maker: Struck by the Mint of Rome.
Marks: Has the initials "G M." under the pope's bust on the obverse.
Reference: Mazio 258 and Lincoln 1152.
Condition: The medal is graded as MS 61 BN (Mint State 61 Brown) by NGC. It has a nice dark brown coloring with no wear, no appreciable scratching and minimum marking to the surface. The medal shows a die defect on the reverse which exhibits itself as a high line or hum in the center of the facade of the church in the reverse. Other than that, the medal is problem free and has nice eye appeal. A nice medal, which would make a great addition to your collection. Please view photos for additional condition information.
