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Leo X Pope (1475-1513-1521) (Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici)
Country: Papal States (Italian States)
Type: Standard circulation coin
Year: Undated (1513-1521)
Value: 4 Deniers (1 Quattrino) (⅙)
Currency: Grosso (1188-1534)
Metal: Billon
Weight: 0.5 g
Diameter: 17 mm
Grade: F/VG (Broken)
Shape: Round (irregular)
Orientation: alignment variable ↺
Technique: Hammered
References: Munt# 54, MIR# 640, Berman# 657
Obverse:
Papal keys, above tiara, Name of city in exergue.
Lettering:
ROMA
Reverse:
Lion passant facing left, with one paw on the globe.
In exergus trident with small ring (Fugger bankers symbol).
Lettering: Ψο
Edge:
Plain.
Mint:
Rome, Italy (476-date).
Comments:
Pope Leo X (Italian: Leone X; born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, 11 December 1475 – 1 December 1521) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 March 1513 to his death, in December 1521.
Born into the prominent political and banking Medici family of Florence, Giovanni was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, ruler of the Florentine Republic, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1489. Following the death of Pope Julius II, Giovanni was elected pope after securing the backing of the younger members of the College of Cardinals. Early on in his rule he oversaw the closing sessions of the Fifth Council of the Lateran, but struggled to implement the reforms agreed. In 1517 he led a costly war that succeeded in securing his nephew Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici as Duke of Urbino, but reduced papal finances.
In Protestant circles, Leo is associated with granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica, a practice that was soon challenged by Martin Luther's 95 Theses. Leo rejected the Protestant Reformation, and his Papal bull of 1520, Exsurge Domine, condemned Luther's condemnatory stance, rendering ongoing communication difficult.
He borrowed and spent money without circumspection and was a significant patron of the arts. Under his reign, Marco Girolamo Vida began composing at the Pope's request a Virgilian Latin epic poem about the life of Jesus called the Christiad, progress was made on the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica, and artists such as Raphael decorated the Vatican rooms. Leo also reorganised the Roman University, and promoted Renaissance humanist study of literature, poetry, and Classics. He died in 1521 and is buried in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome. He was the last pope not to have been in priestly orders at the time of his election to the papacy.
Reference : Munt# 54, MIR# 640, Berman# 657
Source : https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9...
Collection : Italian States - Pre Risorgimento (1250-1861) & Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Republic (1946-date)