Nomos 5

Sweden. Christina. 1632-1654. Medal (Silver, 62.5mm, 95.35 g 12), on the Queen’s independence of spirit after her abdication. By G. B. Guglielmada (fl. 1665-1689), Rome, undated but c. 1685. CHRISTINA REGINA Draped bust of Christina to right, with the winged head of Medusa on her breast. Rev. LIBERO I NACQVI E VISSI E MORRO SCIOLITO (= I was born free, I have lived free and I will die free) Bird of Paradise flying to left over clouds and landscape. Bildt pl. XIII, 58 and pl. X, 42. Hildebrand I, p. 313, 107a. Very rare. Bright with some light toning. A superb medal struck in high relief. Some tiny dark spots and scratches, otherwise, good extremely fine.

Christina, who retired to Rome after becoming Catholic and abdicating, lived there on and off until her death in 1689. She was in many ways an extraordinary figure, who was interested in a wide variety of things and was never deterred from speaking her mind. She was a patron of the arts and a considerable number of Roman engravers worked on medals that depicted her: this one uses the Bird of Paradise to symbolize her, soaring not only over the earth, but the clouds as well.