101190 | ITALY & FRANCE. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci bronze Medal.

101190 | ITALY & FRANCE. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci bronze Medal. Issued 1825. Series Numismatica Universalis Virorum Illustrium (41mm, 45.36 g, 12h). By Duvivier & Durand in Paris.

 

LEONARDUS VINCIUS, bust right / NATUS / AN. M. CCCC. LII. / IN CASTELLO VINCIENSI / APUD FLORENTIAM / OBIIT / FONTEBELLAQUEO / AN. M. D. XX. in seven lines. Edge: MONACHII.

 

Choice Mint State. Glossy mahogany brown surfaces, with a great deal of radiance; a few scattered light marks and spots are noted for completeness. One of the more difficult men to locate in this vast series, and very rare.

 

Many of Durand's earlier issues were struck at the Paris mint, though their policy of maintaining a monopoly over the striking of medals in France caused him to look elsewhere. In order to retain creative and commercial control, he had the mint in München strike some issues between 1826-1844, with the edges of these issues reading "MONACHII" (from München). While many of these medals celebrate famous Frenchmen, the issues celebrating men from other countries are often more interesting—some of which being seldom seen. This issue represents one of the few numismatic renditions of the famous Italian artist and polymath.

 

Sorry, this item is no longer available.