By World Coin News November 02, 2009

A collection of important Renaissance medals formed by leading New York dealer-collector Lawrence R. Stack will be sold by auctioneers Morton & Eden Dec. 9 in London.

The entire collection of 350 pieces will be sold without reserve and is expected to bring a total of around £2 million, or nearly $3.2 million.

The sale represents the most important offering of 15th and 16th century medals from Italy, France, Germany and the Low Countries to come onto the market since before WWII, according to the firm.

As with other significant collections assembled by Stack, the medals were owned as a partnership. With his recent departure from the firm that bears his family name, the partnership profile changed and it was decided that the only equitable manner of dividing the collection was to offer it for sale at public auction.

Among the highlights is a gold medal of Mary Tudor by Jacopo da Trezzo. It was formerly in the Rothschild and Gaines collections and is one of only two known. The medal was made in 1554, the year of Tudor’s marriage to the future Philip II of Spain. It was recently on display at the National Gallery, London, as part of the exhibition “Renaissance Faces.”

Also hitting the block will be four bronze medals by Pisanello, who is generally credited as the inventor of the modern medal in the late 1430s. The medals depict Leonello d’Este, Marquess of Ferrara; Vittorino da Feltre, the humanist; Alfonso V, King of Aragon and Sicily; and Don Inigo d’Avalos, Grand Chamberlain to Alfonso V.

Another bronze medal in the collection is that of humanist philosopher Giovanni Pico della Miradola. It is attributed to Niccolo Spinelli, called Fiorentino, circa 1485 and is thought to be the finest known.

Another highlight will be Hans Reinhart’s silver Trinity Medal of 1544. It was issued by Maurice, Elector of Saxony, in an attempt at reconciliation between the Protestant and Catholic churches.

“A sale of this significance being sold without reserve has no parallels and offers huge opportunities to collectors, dealers and institutional buyers,” said Tom Eden, expert in charge.

For more details, visit www.mortonandeden.com or send an e-mail to info@mortonandeden.com.

More Resources:

• Ultimate Standard Catalog of World Coins 5-CD Set (1600-Present)

• 2010 U.S. Coin Digest, The Complete Guide to Current Market Values

• Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money, 1928 to Date