Jacopo Sannazaro (1458 - 1530) was an Italian poet and humanist from Naples. The name on the obverse, Actius Syncerus, was the classicized name that he took as his pseudonym. The reverse design refers to his sacred epic poem De partu Virginis. Originally written in 1513, it was extensively rewritten in 1519-21, and was published in 1526. Written in Latin, the work is a mixture of the language of classical mythology with the Gospel story, and gained for Sannazaro the name of the "Christian Virgil". Commissioned by Isabella d'Este, the medal was produced some time before March of 1524, as it is mentioned in a letter of March 20, 1524 by Pietro Summonte to Marcantonio Michiel.