8B

Personage:

Alfonso V, King of Aragon & Sicily

Alfonso V, King of Aragon and Sicily, born in 1394 and crowned king in 1416. Alfonso V obtained the Kingdom of Naples in 1442. Died in 1448.

Artist:
Antonio Pisano (known as Pisanello) — Painter and Sculptor, 1395-1455

He was born in Pisa, worked in Rimini, Venice, Naples, Ferrara and Mantova. Pisanello is considered ‘The Creator’ of the Renaissance medals.


Description:

Obverse: DIVVS · ALPHONSVS · ARAGO · SI · SI · VA · HIE · HVN · MA · SAR · COR · REX · CO · BA · DV · AT · E · N · C · R · C. (The titles are: ARAGONUM SICILIARUM VALENCIAE HIEROSOLYMAI HUNGARIAE MAIORICARUM SARDINIAE CORSICAE REX COMES BARCINONAE DUX ATHENARUUM ET NEOPATRIAE COMES ROSCIGLIONIS CERITANIAE). Bust facing right with thick hair, wearing fur-trimmed dress with open crown at bottom and plain border.

Reverse: Above: VENATOR INTREPIDVS; and below, in sunk band: OPVS PISANI PICTORIS. Scene: A young, nude Alfonso hunting a boar, whose ears are held by two hounds. The king leaps on its back and prepares to strike with a long dagger.

Background:

A drawing by Pisanello for the obverse of this medal is dated 1449.

Diameter:
99.0 mm. (Max. Diameter reported: 101 mm.). Bronze cast.
Evaluation:
Considerable wear. Likely an old cast.
Reference:
Hill 42.