Designs for Papal Coins or Medals for Pope Paul III

Engraving with 20 designs for Papal Coins or Medals, each numbered above with Roman numerals, and most of them with engraved inscriptions in Latin, with a variety of motifs related to Pope Paul III (1468-1549). Born Alessandro Farnese, member of an important noble family in Canino, Italy, he was a strong patron of the arts even before being elected pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 1534. His patronage of the arts included the restoration of the University of Rome, an increase in the subsidies and importance of the Vatican Library, and favoring theologians and canonists, without neglecting the fine arts, persuading Michelangelo to complete some of his projects for the Sistine and Pauline Chapels, and the plans for the new St. Peter's Basilica. His pontificate is now recognized as the period of transition between the splendor of the Renaissance and the austerity of the Counter-Reformation. In 1937 he promulgated the papal bull against the enslavement of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and encouraged the formation of new religious orders, providing confirmation of the Jesuits. One of his most important achievements was the Council of Trent in 1545, which he first convoked in 1536, and through which he asked a select group of Cardinals to draw a report of the abuses of the Church, in order to abolish them.

This engraving contains a set of designs for Papal Coins related to Pope Paul III, possibly meant to be paired to form the obverse and reverse of the stamped coin. Papal Coins are part of the Pope's regalia, or sovereign prerogatives, and are produced by the Papal Mint, the Pope's institute for the production of hard cash. This set of designs for Papal Coins begins with a bust of the pope's right, with the words "PAVLVS III PONT. MAX", likely for the obverse of a coin, and the coat of arms of the Farnese family, surmounted by crossed keys and the papal tiara, and with the inscription "AVITAE FARNESIORVM STIRPIS". The practice of including the coat of arms of the Pope or his family became popular in the 16th century, as well as the inclusion of the Savior or Saints, of symbolical figures of men and animals, and of keys. Biblical and moral phrases were also added in allusion to the symbol or saint stamped on the coin, and allusions to historical events, to some concession of the Pope to his subjects, or to a jubilee year, were also common from this time on. The designs in these coins contain several allusions to classical past, often highlighted since the early years of the Renaissance, images of the buildings commissioned by Pope Paulus III, including his Palazzo Farnese in Rome, images of the city of Rome, of Saint Paul, and an image of St. Peter's Basilica accompanied with an inscription to celebrate the jubilee year of 1501.