1626 Church Ignatius Loyola, Card. Ludovisi

Papal foundation medal for the beginning of the construction of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (Sant'Ignazio), 1626. Following the canonization of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1622, Gregory XV suggested to his nephew, Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi, that a new church should be erected to the founder of the Society of Jesus. The young cardinal accepted the idea, asked several architects to draw plans, and paid for the construction. Gilt bronze medal, 63mm in diameter, holed and mount removed; a few scratches in the open field on the obverse. By Gaspare Mola.