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Quattrino - Francis II Bust, reliquary
| Issuer | Mantua, Duchy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1484-1519 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central device depicts the Reliquary of the Precious Blood of Christ, a sacred relic of paramount importance to the Gonzaga dynasty of Mantua, rendered as a stylized vessel or ampulla. The reliquary is surmounted by a small cross formed of four globules arranged in cruciform pattern. The Latin legend encircling the design reads XPI • IHESV • SANGVINIS, invoking the Blood of Jesus Christ and reflecting the deep devotional significance of this relic to the issuing dynasty. The overall composition is characteristic of late medieval Italian devotional coinage. |
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| Additional information |
Francis II Gonzaga ruled Mantua through a period of near-constant military entanglement — he commanded the League of Venice forces at the Battle of Fornovo in 1495, fought against the French invasion of Italy, and spent time as a prisoner of the Venetians. The quattrino was the lowest copper denomination in regular circulation, and issues of this type absorbed most of the small-change demand across his long reign. The reliquary reverse type ties directly to Mantua's prized possession: the Precious Blood relic, which the Gonzaga promoted aggressively as a pilgrimage draw and political legitimizing tool.