- Personage:
-
Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta
Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, “Signore” of Rimini since 1432, born in 1417 in Brescia and died in 1467.
- 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: SIGISMVNDVS · DE · MALATESTIS · ARIMINI · 7C · E · ROMANE · ECCLESIE · CAPITANEVS/GENERALIS. Bust facing right, wearing plate armour over shirt of mail; on shoulder the Malatesta rose. Hair in heavy “zazzara”.
Reverse: OPVS·PISANI·PICTORIS. Sigismondo in full armour, plumet helmet, on charger to left, raising right hand with baton. In background a fortress with date M · CCCC · XLV; on a second tower the Malatesta shield of arms is visible.
- Background:
-
Cast in 1445 when Sigismondo was made “Capitano Generale” by the Pope. The scene on the reverse may refer to the capture of Rocca Contrada in that same year.
- Diameter:
- 100 mm. (Max. Diameter reported: 105 mm.). Bronze cast with brassy appearance.
- Evaluation:
- Likely a more recent cast; lack of some details.
- Reference:
- Hill 34; Armand I, 5, 14; Pollard 13 = Kress 13; Cordellier 277; Syson/Gordon 122, p. 35, fig. 1.40.