It took on. Here's the second Baroque medal, that I found recently. On the obverse is the bust of Pope Alexander VIII (born as Pietro Vito Ottoboni, 1610-1691), and a thurible billowing incense at the reverse. It was sculpted by Giovanni Martino Hamerani (c.1646-1705), son of Alberto, of the two-century Hamerani dynasty that dominated Vatican coinage for a long time.
The reverse, above the incredibly engraved billows of the incense, is dominated by the word SVAVITATE: 'with suavitas' or sweetness: 'gentle'. It was the motto of pope Alexander; he prided himself on being charitable, generous to the poor – but even more so to his family, for Alexander VIII was greatly given to
nepotism. In a way he was like Robin Hood, redistributing the wealth of the Vatican by putting it into the pockets of the poor: in casu, mostly his relatives. Also he handed out profitable offices to his nephews and grandnephews,
young Pietro Ottoboni being a good example.
Papal States. Pope Alexander VIII, 1689-1691. Silvered AE medal, 1690. Obv. Tiaraed bust with ornate pluviale (=Papal raincoat) to the right. On the collar a picture of Saint Bruno. HAMERAN in small letters below bust; dotted border. ALEXAN· - VIII·PONT:M:A:I·. Rev. Censer puffing out billows of smoke. SVAVITATE. Sculpted by Giovanni Martino Hamerani (1646-1705). 12h, 31 mm, 16.54 gr. Ex-Kerry Wetterstrom. See
Ridolfo Venuti,
Numismata romanorum pontificum praestantiora a Martino V ad Benedictum XIV (1744), p. 310 IV.
-- Paul
