Nomos 5

Italy, Venice and Rome. Abbondio Rezzonico. 1742-1810. Medal (Silver, 62.25mm, 92.38 g 12), in honor of Rezzonico’s appointment as Senator in Rome during the Papacy of his uncle, Clement XIII (1758-1769), by Antonio Pazzaglia in Rome, 1766. ABVNDIVS REZZONICO SENATOR VRBIS Bare headed bust of Rezzonico to right, wearing elaborate robes; beneath bust; PAZZAGLIA Rev. CLEMENTIS XIII P M PATRVI ANNO VIII / MDCCLXVI Roma seated facing on throne, turned to right; behind classical arms and standards. Forrer IV, 440. Voltolina 1579. Extremely rare. Nicely toned and with a fine portrait. Some minor die breaks as usual and some minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

Through the patronage of his uncle, Pope Clement XIII, in 1765 he was elected Senator of Rome, the city’s most senior secular magistrate. In 1768 he made a very good match by marrying Princess Ippolita Boncompagni Ludovisi. He continued in papal service until his death and was a patron of artists and writers, such as Canova and Batoni, who painted his portrait in 1765.