Presumably made by Pisanello during the Byzantine emperor’s visit to Ferrara for the council of the union of the Eastern and Western churches, this medallion is often considered the first Renaissance portrait medal. Inspired by Roman coins, the medal was to become the primary means by which the elite promoted their achievements and secured a place in posterity. The Greek inscription on the obverse identifies the emperor. On the reverse he is shown on a horse before a wayside crucifix. The medal captivated other artists—notably Piero della Francesca, who endowed his figure of the early Christian emperor Constantine with the features of the Byzantine ruler.
