Written by Antonio Alejandro Piccolo

What could these cities possibly have in common with Pope Della Rovere?

You’re probably wondering, dear readers of the Nomisma Aste Blog, “What could these three cities ever have in common with Pope Della Rovere???”
At first glance, it seems there’s no connection between them. Yet, guided by four coins featured in our upcoming Auction 11 and Christmas Auction 2025, we’ll discover together the fascinating thread that links them all.

Double Fiorino di Camera of Julius II

Let’s begin with the extremely rare double fiorino di camera, issued during the pontificate of Julius II (1503–1513), lot 451 – Auction 11.
The dies were likely the work of the versatile and talented goldsmith Pier Maria Serbaldi da Pescia.
In the obverse portrait, Serbaldi demonstrates all his engraving mastery, immortalizing in gold the proud and resolute personality of the Savonese Pope.

Auction 11, Lot 451, Julius II (1503-1513) Doppio Fiorino da camera – Munt. 4 AU (g 6,78) RRR

Although the iconography is distinctly religious, the reverse design appears to celebrate the political centrality that Julius II attributed to himself—and which he was indeed able to exercise on many occasions. Even the legend, which in Italian can be rendered as “ship of eternal salvation,” reads as both a hopeful message and a warning of victory.
In the rest of this article, we will try to understand whether this interpretation truly holds.

Gold Scudo of Urbino

The magnificent gold scudo of Urbino, lot 510 of Christmas Auction, clearly demonstrates the prestige the pope enjoyed.

Christmas Auction, Lot 510, URBINO Francesco Maria I della Rovere (1508-1538) Ducato

The nineteen-year-old Duke Francesco Maria I della Rovere (who ruled from 1508 to 1538), nephew of the pope himself, was appointed Captain General of the Holy Roman Church in 1509.
The scudo, issued to celebrate this honorary appointment, specifies in the reverse legend that it took place precisely during the pontificate of Julius II.

One might object: the duke was the pope’s nephew, the title was granted by Rome, and the Duchy of Urbino was a feudal state of the Church.
Despite all this, the fact that the coin of an autonomous signoria also bears the name of a distinct external authority demonstrates the full political weight that this authority wielded.

Gold Ducat of Julius II from Bologna

In 1512 we once again encounter Julius II and the Duke of Urbino—this time in his role as Captain General—engaged together in the second papal reconquest of Bologna.

The pope’s coat of arms depicted on the obverse of this exceptional gold ducat, featured as lot 452 in Auction 11, is of course the same one used by his nephew on the reverse of the gold scudo of Urbino.

Auction 11, Lot 452, Giulio II (1503-1513) Bologna – Ducato con armetta Alidosi

Let us clarify, however, that the issue of this Bolognese coin dates to the years 1508–1511, as indicated on the reverse by the small coat of arms of Cardinal Alidosi.

Half Lira of Maximilian of Habsburg from Verona

And what about the half lira struck in Verona by Maximilian of Habsburg, lot 544 of the Christmas Auction?
The political circumstances that made it possible to issue this majestic Renaissance coin—further enhanced by its prestigious pedigree (ex Gnecchi Collection, lot 5820)—reveal its connection to Julius II.

Christmas Auction, Lot 544, VERONA Massimiliano d’Asburgo (1509-1516) Mezza Lira

The Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian of Habsburg, was able to take possession of the Scaliger city and issue coins in his name between 1509 and 1516 largely thanks to the political action of Julius II, the true driving force behind the League of Cambrai, formed to put an end to the power of Venice on the Venetian mainland, Lombardy, and Romagna.

It was then the same pope—who could not have foreseen the rise of French power in Italy—who was forced to dissolve the coalition and give life to the Holy League, this time directed against France.

But isn’t this precisely the concrete demonstration of the legend on the reverse of the double fiorino di camera we saw at the beginning?
The pope’s “ship,” through dangerous tempests and sudden changes of course, managed to stay safe nonetheless!

Read also:

• The news of Auction 11
• The news of Christmas Auction