Inscription content: Inscribed by Ghezzi:
“Quintus Fabius Maximus called the Verrucosus who was dictator of the Roman People – Five times / Consul – Twice Viceroy Aedile – Curole [sic; Curule] – Military Tribune Pontiff and Augur – / king – In the first Consulate he subjugated the Ligurians – held Hannibal under control several times – / being Consul The fifth time, he brought Taranto under the obedience of the Roman People and / to this fact, the reverse of the Medal makes allusion, where the consular / fasces are seen – / The head of this great man has never been seen on the Medals / by any Antiquarian, therefore this one is very rare and is preserved among the antiquities of – / my Dear Friend the S.[igno]r Abbate Ballerini, a man very learned both in Antiquities / and in Literature, and is librarian in the library of Casa Barberini and antece – / the former librarian, is Vicar of Monsignor of Carpentrasso, and also of His Holiness Cardinal Monti / is the present Librarian of the Barberini House, Designed by My Lord Pietro / Leone Ghezzi, on the 15th November 1753, at my age of 79 years -” Inscriptions on large coin: Obverse: Q.[VINTVS] FABIVS MAX.[IXIMVS] On the reverse: TARENT[VM] RESTIT[IT] and below: ROVERCIO DELLA TESTA DI Q.[UINTO] FABIO Above small version of obverse: DRITTO and of reverse: ROVERCIO [sic]
This is super important for demonstrating that the fashion for fantasy pieces and the belief in their authenticity (in some cases) pre dates the mid 18th century.
Liv Mariah Yarrow 