constanius

You pose great questions Frank. Bronze was the most common metal, silver & gold was used but many lead medals were also produced, often as you say for trial proofs but also for issue. The status of the recipient or purchaser being a factor. Here from just one catalog is a selection of lead medals, plus as a bonus a beautiful lead plaque from another source. Despite being made of lead all these objects seem to have survived in great condition. Maybe the lead used then was alloyed(pewter? never heard renaissance medals described that way) or had impurities in it which made it harder than pure lead? I have never seen any studies done on the hardness of renaissance lead, it would be of interest to know. Thanks for the questions, keep them coming, they are much appreciated Frank.

Had a quick look online found this from the Michael Hall collection part 3(Baldwins 67)

I have never seen or heard of one before. But that is what it appears to be, though it might be tinned lead but that is probably equally as rare. I have seen a gilded bronze version of this medal and the British Museum has a unifaced cast lead obverse of the medal, donated by George IV, ex George III collection.

MAZZ PLATE XXXV. 774 Obv: FRANCISCVS MYRON PROPR. ET PRAEF. MERCATOR. VRBIS + 1606 + Bust left of François Miron .Trans: Francois Miron(Lord Tremblay, Chancellor to the Dauphin) Civil Lieutenant and Provost of the Merchants of Paris. R: VIIS FONTIBVS PORTIS AEDIFICIISQVE PVBL.(Paths Fountains Gates Public Buildings) François Miron in the robes of a councellor, standing before a curule chair, he shows to her, her reflection in the mirror he holds, to a crowned woman(the personification of the city of Paris) sitting on a curule chair, formed of cornucopiae, with the ship of Paris appearing from her dress. She extends her right hand and offers 3 coins to Miron, inner legend: ET DECVS ET SPECVLVM(both Adornment & Mirror), exergue: LVTETIA / DECORATA.(Paris Adorned) . RR silvered cast lead, 50mm, Maz 744. by Paola Giovanni(known to be in the service of the King of France at least 1604-1607). François Miron(1560-1609) Lord Tremblay, was an advisor to the Parliament of Paris, Chancellor of the Dauphin and provost of Paris from 1604 to 1609. Very rare silvered cast lead medal. Advisor to the Parliament of Paris on 18 December 1585 , master of requests 11 August 1587 , steward to the Government of the Île-de-France , received on 23 November 1593 , Chairman of the Grand Council , Chancellor of Dauphin , State Councillor for patent 9 December 1594 , lieutenant of the Chatelet of Paris in 1596 and provost of Paris from 1604 until his death in 1609. Henri IV relied on him to improve the infrastructure of Paris, he greatly increased the water-supply, improved the streets & paths etc & built, among other things, a new City Hall. After the King's death, Marie de Medici continued to support his efforts. François Miron brooked no refusal, from any of the bourgeois, to cede ground(with compensation) for urban development. But when the King decided to install the Palace for the Dauphine and to reserve homes for bourgeois and merchants, to the exclusion of artisans, the provost rebuffed ...In a letter to the king... he is outraged by this project of "zoning" and ahead of his times, advocates for a social mix "Dear Sire, allow me to withdraw, swearing loyalty to the King, I promised to sustain the Crown....for Your Majesty commands me an act harmful to the kingdom ... I refuse, I say to my dear Master and beloved Sovereign: it is an unfortunate idea of building a neighborhood used exclusive for artisans and laborers. In a capital the Sovereign, should not creat a poor small neighborhood one side of the Seine and a wealthy & large one on the other, it is much easier mixed...danger to your crown might come from that poor ghetto....I do not want, Sire, to be involved with this measure. He was buried in the family vault in the church Sainte-Marine(ile de la Cite) which was later demolished and houses built upon the site. His tomb was then 'lost', later when the house #73 was in its turn demolished his tomb was rediscovered & he was reburied in Notre-Dame. His statue is on l'Hotel de Ville(Town Hall) of Paris.

British Numismatic Society: 48(1978) 117-118. So is this token of mine an example of the only 'genuine' USA struck John Wilkinson's Halfpenny token minted, post 1947, by the Osborne Coinage Company using a copy of a genuine 1790 Vulcan reverse and a newly designed & engraved obverse? I have seen another example of this oddity but there does not seem to be too many of them around. If I ever decide to sell it, could I list it as an American token? It might even be worth more than a genuine Wilky!!!

A medal for the elevation to Cardinal, on the 18 Dec.1958, of Archbishop Richard Cushing of Boston. UT COGNOSCANT TE; THAT THEY MAY KNOW THEE( the motto of the Archdiocese of Boston)

According to the American Journal "This medal was struck in SILVER, and only a few impressions have been taken for distribution among personal friends of Mr. Hoe. Like that previously described, which was issued by the same gentleman, the dies of this piece are the work of the eminent Viennese medalist, Anton Scharff. Its size, as by the engraving from which our description is taken, is 32, American scale. w. T. R. M.". https://www.google.com/search?q=Anton+scharff+Gutenberg+medal&client=tablet-android-asus-nexus&hl=en&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=gJlxUYO1HZDY9QTzyYH4BQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA&biw=601&bih=906#q=Anton+scharff+Gutenberg+medal&client=tablet-android-asus-nexus&hl=en&ei=F5pxUbOJL4TC9QTY54GACA&start=10&sa=N&fp=1&biw=601&bih=906&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&cad=b&sei=F5pxUbOJL4TC9QTY54GACA So perhaps the bronze ones were offered for sale? I have never seen one, in silver or bronze, neat medal.

Absolutely Fabulous Richard III, mind the Henry VI leaf-trefoil groat is not too shabby!!! Thanks for the post Clive, looking at the pictures of those coins gave me so much pleasure.

The ocean going paddle steamer with sail is a beauty, nice nautical jeton.

I decided that though I needed to show the suspension loop it only needed to be shown from one side and because the reverse has more detail a bigger image of it would be more advantageous than one of the obverse. Bronze 41mm some of the original gilding remains, utmost rarity. Plans had been made for a Sacred Mount dedicted to S. Caroli(Borromeo) in Arona, his birthplace. The laying of the foundation stone of the Church of San Carlo(architect Francesco Richini) by Cardinal Federico Borromeo Archbishop of Milan & Father Marco Aurelio Grattarola(the driving forces behind the plan) with bishops Philip Archinto(Como) & Giorgio Odescalchi(Vigevano) attending took place July 13, 1614 the stone was inscribed: D.O.M. Paulo Quinto Pontefice Maximo, Federicus Borromaeus Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Praesbyter Cardinalis Archiepiscopus Mediolani, Praesentibus Philippo Novocomensi et Petro Georgio Viglevenensi Episcopis, in hac primaria Sancti Caroli construenda Aede lapidem hunc a sec ecclesiastico ritu benedictum primo posuit, Tertio Idus Julii, 1614., Then some medals blessed by the Pope were placed in the same place(as the foundation stone): on one side of the medals was the portrait of St. Caroli inscribed: S. CAROLE ORA PRO NOBIS 1614 on the reverse, the Sacred Mount filled with light that fell on the room where the saint was born and inscribed: MONS S. CAROLI IN ARONA DEI ÆDIFICATIO. This medal was mentioned in the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUMISMATICS,AND Bulletin of American Numismatic and Archaeological Societies. Vol. XXII. BOSTON, JULY, 1887. No. 1. THE MEDALS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, CARDINAL, ARCHBISHOP OF MILAN. by Dr. H. R. Storer. 30. Obverse. Bust of the saint, to left, with bare head and aureole, adoring Our Lord. Inscription: S. Carole. Ora. Pro. Nobis Reverse. The Holy Mount of Arona. Inscription: Mons. S. Caroli. In. Arona. Dei Ædificatio +. Bronze. 40 mm. 25. In the collection of Signor Gnecchi(Italian numismatist), from whom I have received impressions. It was struck in commemoration of the birthplace of St. Charles.

Why would there be a need for more coins? The penny was just an inconvenience, it was not really being used for transactions anymore, it was long past its use by date.

A bit of a mystery is this one, I could do with a few suggestions or perhaps somebody has seen this before and has some info about it. I have some thoughts about the medal but I do not want to influence anyone's ideas so I will post my thoughts later. 43mm bronze

I did some manipulation of the images to try and assist with the identification. It appears to be a crowned cross entwined with stylized lilies(Cross of Thorns?)obverse and a monogrammed reverse(CRI?) the dates certainly point to a Christopher Columbus commemorative medal. Hopefully someone will know what it is.

I think it was just issued as a reckoning counter during the Regency of Anne of Austria, not for any other event/reason. Not dated but I believe the early portraits were used between 1643-1646. Ian will know. R / bust of Louis XIV to right. - B lying between 2 points (Nicolas Briot) - Feuardent 12,439. http://www.saivenumismatique.com/article.asp?langue=de&article=15679 By error you have put Louis XIII in the title, I know that you are fully aware it is XIV or XIIII

Left side of the header click on 'openlibrary.org' or go direct to http://openlibrary.o...les_et_antiques there you can select from a few download choices, I know the picture plates are excellent in the PDF files. Glad you are enjoying it.

Rouyer is online http://archive.org/s...e/n212/mode/2up this might be of help when you have cleaned it. You can download it as a pdf & the illustrated plates are quite clear, whereas online they are mostly missing?

Blind as a bat, maybe but you nailed that one Ian.

I could make out AVE MARIA which lead me to this http://www.ukdfd.co....date=1208033591 looks to be similar perhaps yours is the one referenced by Mitchiner.

Great additions for your collection Ian

Another nice find Clive. It is The forge of Vulcan, who works the armour of Mars. https://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/XDB/ASP/recordDetailsLarge.asp?recordCount=36&id={51C4EE77-4D01-4300-919A-5A57B862BB77}&returnPage=&start=0

I like the dais with the fleur-de-lis decoration, nice acquisition Ian.

That is a nice copy by Lauer.

Think outside the box, just make 5 wishes for a nickle......... problem solved.

One other idea, there is a Washington university(named for George) in St Louis(fleur-de-lis) so it could also be an old fraternity badge.

Thanks for the info ccg, I agree with you. It is an interesting item of jewelry which, though I am pleased to have acquired, I hope it does not lead me into collecting Washingtoniana as I fear it will be too expensive for me!