Bicentennial of the Protestant Reformation
CNG 103, Lot: 1133. Estimate $500. Sold for $4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. |
|
GERMANY, Regensburg (Freie und Reichsstädte). AR Medal (44mm, 29.40 g, 12h). Bicentennial of the Protestant Reformation. By ‘N. N.’ of Rome. Dated 1717 (
in nine chronograms). FR
VSTRA Q
VOS OFFEN
DIT S
CE
LEST
VS
IMP
LORA (
In vain does the wicked man implore those whom he has injured), book inscribed BIB/LIA on altar set atop mountain; kneeling to either side, Crusader, holding patriarchal cross with shield on back and Papal tiara at feet and saying “PI
CCA
VI A
DIVVA
ME (
Help me, I have sinned),” and Priest standing right, holding communion cup and banner on patriarchal cross; below, Jew riding right on donkey, a Turk riding right on a camel, and a Jesuit riding left on a fox, saying between them “
IVLAT
ILLE –
MAGNA
DISPAR
ITAS –
IVB
ILAT
ISTE (
One cries out, the other rejoices, great disparity)”; in background, city views; in exergue, PIERRE CABANIS PRETRE SECVLIER INV · N · N · FEC · ROMÆ /
VN
DIQ
VE/ PRO
CE
LLA PRE
MIT
VR ·/
IN GA
LLIA R
IDET
VR/
IMP
IA
CONST
IT
VT
IO ·/ H
ISPAN
IA N
IH
ILI ·/
DVCIT F
VLMINA ·/ S
ICILIAE
LVS
IT
IN
DIGNA/ PRORS
VS
MON
ITA ·/
CAESAR PRO
VO
CAT
VS/
DIRA
MINAT
VR ·/ ET
LVTHERANOR
VM/
DO
CT ·
IVB
ILAT · (
On all sides the storm gathers/
In France a wicked assembly laughs./
Spain thinks the lightning is nothing./
Sicily plays unworthily with these monitions./
The emperor being provoked threatens terrible things,/
and the teacher of the Lutherans rejoices). Cf. Peus 415, lot 448 (for example in bronze); J. Hilton,
Chronograms, 5000 and more in number (London, 1882), pp. 223-4. EF, toned. Very rare.
Pierre Cabanis, here billed as a “secular priest,” published Le miroir, que ne flate point, d’un prince accompli et d’un ministre fidele in Regensberg in 1716.