Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta (1417–1468)

One of the most accomplished condottieri in Italy and captain general of the Church, Sigismondo, Lord of Rimini and Fano, built a series of castles throughout his territories, most notably the Rocca Malatestiana in Rimini, the center of his court (begun in 1437). The reverse refers to the 1446 ceremonial inauguration of the Rocca, though this medal and the group of related medals that also bear the date were probably produced about 1450. Within the buildings' fabric, he buried several medals with the date 1446, the year he dedicated his new castle, consolidated his political power, and won Isotta degli Atti as his mistress. A reissue of this medal presents Sigismondo in armor. The reverse design was copied by Piero della Francesca in the sacristy of the church of San Francesco in Rimini (also called the Tempio Malatestiano).

Source: Scher, Stephen K., et al. The Scher Collection of Commemorative Medals. New York and London, 2019.