103276 | ITALY. Florence. Archconfraternity of Mercy bronze Medal.

103276  |  ITALY. Florence. Archconfraternity of Mercy bronze Medal. Issued 1885 (58mm, 84.94 g, 12h). By Luigi Giorgi for Luigi Gori.

 

Martyrdom of St. Sebastian: Seminude figure of St. Sebastian seated right, tied to stump and being pierced in chest by arrow // AUSPICE / UMBERTO I RE D'ITALIA / NELLA FESTIVITÀ / DI / SEBASTIANO MARTIRE / PATRONO / DEL SODALIZIO DELLA MISERICORDIA / IN FIRENZE / XX GENNAIO MDCCCLXXXV in nine lines. Edge: Plain.

 

lamoneta.it W-ME51N8/1-1. Choice Mint State. Brassy-brown surfaces, with some great original brilliance spread throughout.

 

Sebastian was an early Christian saint who is said to have been martyred during the persecutions under Roman Emperor Diocletian, circa C.E. 288. He was condemned to death by being tied to a tree and shot with arrows, though he survived this act. He attempted to warn Diocletian of the latter's sins, and was then subsequently clubbed to death. Given his initial condemnation, he is traditionally represented in Catholicism as being pierced by arrows, as is the case on this medal. He serves, rather appropriately, as the patron saint of archers, as well as soldiers, athletes, race car drivers, and, relevant to more recent times, the plague stricken. This medal also has an interesting connection to the early-20th century coinage of China, in that the designer of this piece, Luigi Giorgi, served as the chief engraver at the Tientsin mint from 1910–1917, where he designed some of the most iconic issues from the period.

 

Upload: 3 November 2025.