Archaeological Museum of Bologna

Many scholars contend that the gold and silver coins of Cardinal Ferdinando Gonzaga surpassed in quality and quantity, for beauty and richness of the types, all those of any other Italian prince.

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The second son of Vincenzo, appointed cardinal in 1607, in 1612 was entrusted to him the leadership of the duchies of Mantua and Monferrato. The portrait engraved on the obverse of this gold coin with six doubles, dated 1614, shows Ferdinand in cardinal dress, demonstrating that the Duke did not give up immediately to the title of cardinal, which he held until 1615. The reverse shows the splendid Gonzaga enterprise of the sun beaming in human form, accompanied by the legend NON MVTVATA LVCE, to express the Gonzaga greatness that shining with own light and not reflected.

Provenance: Palagi Collection
Datation: 1614
Material: gold
Dimensions: diam mm 41; gr 39,15
Inventory #: 25873