Austrian Empire (Lombardi-Venetia) 1818 Milan Cathedral Inauguration Medal - 'Heavy' Type

$55.00

Offered is a scarce 1818 bronze medal issued to commemorate the inauguration of the cathedral at Milan, Putinati#H19. This piece was comissioned by Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck (also known as Karl Kajetan Gaisruck) Archbishop of Milan, and designed by Francesco Putinati. The obverse features the bust of the Archbishop, facing right, surrounded by inscription ‘KAR CAIET GAISRVCHIVS COMES V C ARCHIEPISCOP MEDIOLANENSIVM,’ while the reverse depicts a three-quarters view of cathedral, surrounded by inscription ‘MAGISTERIVM IN TEMPLO MAX/ AVSPICATVS VII K AVG AN MDCCCXVIII.’

F. Putinati was born in Verona around 1775 and was a sculptor and medallist. When he came to Milan, he devoted himself almost entirely to the engraving of moulds, as the engraver of the Mint Milano, maintained that status until death. For his part, Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck was a largely secular man with a liberal arts education. He endeavoured to reform the church, and did so quite successfully. Though highly regarded, his strong Austrian national sentiments made him unpopular in his latter years, as these correlated with the beginnings of the Italian nationalist movement in Lombardi-Venetia.

Two variants exist of this medal - the rarer (as here) heavier, no pin hole over exergue, and a more common lighter variant, with pin hole over exergue. In general, this piece remains attractive despite a couple of hits and some apparent cabinet friction.

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Offered is a scarce 1818 bronze medal issued to commemorate the inauguration of the cathedral at Milan, Putinati#H19. This piece was comissioned by Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck (also known as Karl Kajetan Gaisruck) Archbishop of Milan, and designed by Francesco Putinati. The obverse features the bust of the Archbishop, facing right, surrounded by inscription ‘KAR CAIET GAISRVCHIVS COMES V C ARCHIEPISCOP MEDIOLANENSIVM,’ while the reverse depicts a three-quarters view of cathedral, surrounded by inscription ‘MAGISTERIVM IN TEMPLO MAX/ AVSPICATVS VII K AVG AN MDCCCXVIII.’

F. Putinati was born in Verona around 1775 and was a sculptor and medallist. When he came to Milan, he devoted himself almost entirely to the engraving of moulds, as the engraver of the Mint Milano, maintained that status until death. For his part, Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck was a largely secular man with a liberal arts education. He endeavoured to reform the church, and did so quite successfully. Though highly regarded, his strong Austrian national sentiments made him unpopular in his latter years, as these correlated with the beginnings of the Italian nationalist movement in Lombardi-Venetia.

Two variants exist of this medal - the rarer (as here) heavier, no pin hole over exergue, and a more common lighter variant, with pin hole over exergue. In general, this piece remains attractive despite a couple of hits and some apparent cabinet friction.

Offered is a scarce 1818 bronze medal issued to commemorate the inauguration of the cathedral at Milan, Putinati#H19. This piece was comissioned by Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck (also known as Karl Kajetan Gaisruck) Archbishop of Milan, and designed by Francesco Putinati. The obverse features the bust of the Archbishop, facing right, surrounded by inscription ‘KAR CAIET GAISRVCHIVS COMES V C ARCHIEPISCOP MEDIOLANENSIVM,’ while the reverse depicts a three-quarters view of cathedral, surrounded by inscription ‘MAGISTERIVM IN TEMPLO MAX/ AVSPICATVS VII K AVG AN MDCCCXVIII.’

F. Putinati was born in Verona around 1775 and was a sculptor and medallist. When he came to Milan, he devoted himself almost entirely to the engraving of moulds, as the engraver of the Mint Milano, maintained that status until death. For his part, Carlo Gaetano Gaisruck was a largely secular man with a liberal arts education. He endeavoured to reform the church, and did so quite successfully. Though highly regarded, his strong Austrian national sentiments made him unpopular in his latter years, as these correlated with the beginnings of the Italian nationalist movement in Lombardi-Venetia.

Two variants exist of this medal - the rarer (as here) heavier, no pin hole over exergue, and a more common lighter variant, with pin hole over exergue. In general, this piece remains attractive despite a couple of hits and some apparent cabinet friction.