Roman Silver & Bronze

Lot 3561    Session 12 (11.30am Friday)    Roman Silver & Bronze

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $280

AUGUSTUS, (27 B.C. - A.D. 14), Paduan medal die struck, after Giovanni Cavino, (23.2 grams), obv. laureate head of emperor Augustus to left, around DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, dotted border, rev. a male figure (the emperor) standing left between Ceres and Jupiter, to right Victory, eagle at feet, beneath personifications of sea and land, dotted border, (Lawrence 3/73, Klawans 5, [p.24-5]). Of good style, very fine, rare.

The following lots is from a small collection of medals, some copied from genuine coins by Giovanni Cavino (The Paduan) an Italian medallist, contemporary with Benevenuto Cellini, who was born at Padua in 1499 or 1500. Little is known of his life and his medals were probably made at Padua where he resided until his death in 1570. He was aided by his son Vincenzo who probably continued to use his dies after his death. He is best known for his numerous imitations of Roman large-brass coins and medallions which are known as 'Paduans'. One hundred and twenty two of his dies are preserved at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. However the great majority of the number of medals that survive today and called 'Paduans' are cast from moulds from these original die struck medals. Some of the examples described below are so good that they are barely distinguishable from genuine ancient sestertii that were used as the models for these medals. All of Cavinos original strikings are very rare, the cast medallic issues are relatively common.