ITALY. Papal Coinage. Pius V, 1566-1572. Medal (Silver, 35 mm, 29.18 g, 12 h), on his reign. By G. F. Bonzagna and G. Morone Mola, no date (late 17th to early 18th centuries). PIVS•V•PONT•OPT•MAX•ANNO VI• / •F•P• Draped bust of Pius V to left. Rev. DOMINE QVIS - SIMILIS TIBI / C.PRIV.S.PONT. Draped bust of Christ to right. Armand III, 264. Wurzbach 7433. An extremely rare and highly attractive medal with beautiful iridescent toning. Tiny marks, otherwise, good extremely fine.



This enigmatic medal is a rare mule that unites the work of two master engravers, Gian Federigo Bonzagna 'Parmense' (1507-1588) and Gaspare Morone Mola 'Mazio' (1603-1669). The obverse portrait of Pope Pius V (1504-1572), canonized in 1712, is by Bonzagna and also appears on the famous Lepanto medal of 1572 (cf. Börner 520,1). The reverse, with Mazio’s portrait of Christ, is likewise found on a medal he engraved for Pope Urban VIII (1568–1644; cf. Miselli 215).

The reason for this unusual die combination was explained by Wurzbach in his catalogue: The Hebrew baptismal name of the pope, Michael, means ‘Who is like God?’ and corresponds to the reverse inscription Domine quis similis tibi? (‘Lord, who is like you?’; Psalm 34:10) (cf. W. R. Wurzbach-Tannenberg, Katalog meiner Sammlung von Medaillen, Plaketten und Jetons, II. Teil, Vienna 1943, p. 1198, no. 7433). The ultimate meaning of the medal is open to interpretation. To equate Pius V with God would be inconceivable on a papal issue. Could this die-link instead conceal a veiled critique of the unpopular Urban VIII, who had commissioned Mazio to depict him alongside Christ and the verse from Psalm 34:10?

Whatever the case, the medal combines historical significance and exceptional artistry with an illustrious pedigree. It once belonged to the legendary collection of Count Alessandro Magnaguti of the Gonzaga family (1887-1966), who between 1905 and 1956 assembled a collection of coins and medals unrivaled in scope and variety.