Giovanni Alvise Toscani (ca. 1450–1478)

Lysippus made six medals of Toscani, the humanist and consistorial advocate to Pope Sixtus IV, who became auditor in January 1477. The large number of designs of Toscani by Lysippus can be attributed to their close friendship. The image of Pallas Athena standing on a dolphin cannot be explained. As Lysippus was active during the reign of Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471–84) and his earliest dated medal is from 1478, the present medal most likely dates to around this time.

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