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Auction: 390 - Renaissance Plaquettes and Commemorative Medals featuring the Neil A. Goodman Collection - e-Auction
Lot: 169

AFTER THE FRENCH, MICHELET SAULMON (?), early 15th Century
Emperor Heraclius (610-641) and the Return of the True Cross. Medal. White Metal, 93mm. Draped bust of Heraclius in profile right, wearing a radiate, ornamented crown, rays of light coming from heaven, crescent below; Greek legend around: beginning "Heraclius, [faithful] in Christ our Lord; Latin legend before: "Cause Thy Face to Shine, O Lord"; Latin legend on crescent: "Upon our darkness, I will make war upon the heathen" rev. Heraclius seated in a carriage led by a squire and drawn by three horses right, returning the true cross to Jerusalem, four lamps hang above; Latin legend around: "He has trodden on the asp and basilisk and trampled on the lion and the dragon" [from Psalm 90:13]; Greek legend across field. Kress 525; Armand II, 8.6; Currency of Fame No. 2.
In 614, the "True Cross" was looted from Jerusalem during Khusrau the Second's invasion of Syria and Palestine. After a peace treaty with the Persians in 628, Byzantine emperor Heraclius recovered and returned the "True Cross." An 18th Century cast after the famed gold medal once in possession of Jean, Duc de Berry (1360-1416) - the original likely designed by Michelet Saulmon, Berry's court painter. On this cast, the obverse margin legend and reverse field legends have been reworked. Tiny "countermark" obverse left field (three pellets). Cast and legends reworked. Extremely Fine. Ex Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH, Sale 106, December 2, 2016, lot 2165 - 'Pewter, of the Paris School'
From the Neil A. Goodman Collection

Sold for
$1,250

Starting price
$550