Page 24 - The Lugdunum Auction 21

A medal of the highest rarity

This specimen, is one of only three known to exist, two of them being held in the collections of two presti-
gious institutions: the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris and the British Museum in London.

In other words, and to the best of our knowledge, this medal is the only example in private hands and
available on the market.

The chronogram

An interesting fact is that this medal is dated through the use of a chronogram, a sentence in which spe-
cific letters, interpreted as numerals, stand for a particular date when rearranged. The last verse of the
obverse legend explains to the reader how the chronogram should be read. This is what is obtained:

TEMPORA DE LICTERIS HIC ET RETRO RESPICE SCIES.

M = 1000
CCCC = 400
L = 50
IIIII = 5

1455

Great artistic merit

This medal is also a true masterpiece of medieval art with an exceptional style.

On the obverse, you can feel the strength and power of
the King on horseback so realistically illustrated. The
drapery and closes are just floating in the wind and his
horse in “Galop volant” seems to be flying toward the
enemy.

On the reverse, in contrast, you can feel stability and the
authority of the King in a totally static scene. This feeling is
emphasized by the unique use of perspective in the design
of the throne, a technic that had disappeared since Antiqui-
ty and will be one of the most important re-discoveries of
the Renaissance.