Pope Paul III
Securitas Seated
Bronze, 37.6 mm Ø, 37.9 g
Attributed to Alessandro Cesati, c. 1549.
Obverse: Bust of Paul III facing right, bearded and wearing camauro and mozzetta. Around, PAVLVS · III · PONT · OPT · MAX · AN · XVI · (Paul III, Supreme Pontiff, In His Sixteenth Year).
Reverse: Security seated facing right, next to an altar with a fire. Around, SECVRITAS · POPVLI · ROMANI · (Security of the Roman People). In exergue, ALMA · ROMA · .
Throughout his pontificate, Paul II had worked to fortify the city of Rome. As the Holy Year of 1550 approached, he implemented surveillance and control measures to ensure a smooth Jubilee and the safety of the arriving pilgrims.
The reverse of this medal is found on a rare piece with a similar obverse from a different die of which Modesti located only a single example in the British Museum. The obverse die was shared with other medals of Paul III, leading Modesti to label this piece as a restrike.
Provenance:
A. H. Baldwin & Sons 66, 29 June 2010, lot 1043 (Michael Hall collection).
References:
cf. Toderi and Vannel 2000, no. 2075
Modesti 2003, no. 354