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Originally, medals were cast or struck in silver and gold and given as extra compensation to those in the Vatican that were chosen by the pope. Generally, after the needs of the Vatican were satisfied, the dies
became the property of the engravers who would often strike or cast medals for profit. We can thank these engravers for the bronze medals that exist today as most medals made from silver and gold were reduced to
bullion. An excellent example is the French looting of the Vatican in 1808.
Artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods used their talents to engrave the profiles of the popes. The reverses of papal medals depicted coat of arms, allegorical representations, or facades of famous buildings
and public works. Renowned artist Vittore Pisano (Pisanello) engraved Martin V’s medals; for Eugene IV (1431-1447) the artist was Andrea Cremonese; Vittore Camelio lent his talents to Paul II (1464-1471);
Renaissance man Benvenuto Cellini engraved works for Clement VII (1523-1534) and found himself jailed for stealing Vatican gold. A talented young woman, Beatrice Hamerani, engraved a medal for Pope Clement XII
(1730-1740). Her story together with artists of the Baroque period can be found in the book Roma Resurgens by Prof. Nathan Whitman.
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