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The golden Bolognino of Nicholas V

Written by Greta Gazzaniga

Bologna in the 15th century: political instability and new balances of power

Bologna in the 15th century was undergoing a period of intense political turmoil, during which three major powers vied for control over the city. These were the Papal States, the city’s autonomous government, and finally, the Bentivoglio family, who were attempting to seize power. Towards the middle of the century, an administrative arrangement was reached in which the Riformatori dello Stato della Libertà (sixteen reformers) held civic authority. Pope Nicholas V recognized this small oligarchy in his capitula—official documents clearly outlining both the duties of the sixteen reformers and the obligations of the Church toward the city.

The golden Bolognino: characteristics and iconography

Golden bolognini first appeared in Bologna starting in 1379-1380 and were minted with the same weight, value, and metal quality as the Venetian ducats and Florentine florins. The obverse features a rampant lion holding a crusader banner with the legend BONONIA DOCET; the mintmaster’s symbol is located alongside it. The reverse depicts a standing Saint Peter, with the legend S. PETRVS APOSTOLVS and the papal symbol nearby.

Attribution to the pontificate of Nicholas V

The bolognino presented in our Auction 12, lot 613, is commonly associated with the pontificate of Nicholas V. Towards the beginning of the last century, it had not been attributed to a specific historical minting period and was categorized among the anonymous coins of the 14th and 15th centuries. More recent authors, such as Muntoni or Chimienti, attribute this coin to the pontificate of Nicholas V. The reasons are both stylistic and based on the fact that the decussate keys symbol, appearing next to the figure of Saint Peter, was the Pope’s personal coat of arms.

Nomisma Aste, Asta Numismatica 12, Lotto 613, Nicolò V (1447-1455) Bologna - Bolognino d'oro

Numismatic Auction 12, Lot 613, Nicholas V (1447-1455) Bologna – Bolognino d’oro

Papal coats of arms and mintmasters: documentary evidence

As reported in official mint records, these coins feature papal coats of arms and the marks of the mintmasters. On the coin featured in our auction, we find the decussate keys surmounted by the tiara (triregnum) and the symbol of a mintmaster who remains unidentified till these days. Contemporary documents reveal that in 1455, the mintmasters of Bologna were Benedetto di Antonio del Montone—whose symbol has been identified as the letter M within a globus cruciger—and Bartolomeo Mino Rossi, whose symbol is unknown.

The mystery of the “GF” monogram

A “GF” monogram surmounted by a cross can be observed on this bolognino, which does not appear to be attributable to the other known mintmaster. Furthermore, records specify that mintmasters from outside the city also arrived in Bologna to contribute to the mint’s work, including Pietro di Bertolino Maestri from Reggio and Francesco Ferini, a mintmaster from Florence. However, their exact roles within the mint remain unknown—a mystery that may only be resolved should new documents eventually emerge.

This bolognino, bearing an unknown mintmaster’s mark, along with the one featuring the mark of Benedetto di Antonio del Montone, is classified among the papal coins minted in Bologna. It is considered one of the rarest issues from the Emilian capital.

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