Francs Trial Louis XII / Anne de Bretagne 1499 TTB-SUP

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This pair of medallions features uniface lead trial strikes (~11 cm diameter, ~291 g each) of the profile busts of King Louis XII and Anne of Brittany. Cast in circa 1499 to commemorate the royal couple’s solemn entry into the city of Lyon, these high-relief pieces are exceptionally fine examples of early French Renaissance medallic art. Each medallion exhibits the royal portrait in very high relief with a blank reverse, indicating that these are one-sided trial medals likely produced contemporaneously with the official commemorative medal.

On the Louis XII medallion, the king is depicted in profile facing right, wearing a cap (mortarboard) surmounted by a crown of fleurs-de-lis and adorned with the collar and badge of the Order of Saint Michael.

The field around the king’s bust is filled with fleur-de-lis motifs, symbolizing the French monarchy, and a lion passant is seen below the bust – a reference to the city of Lyon, which commissioned the medal.
Encircling the portrait is the Latin legend “FELICE · LVDOVICO · REGNANTE · DVODECIMO · CESARE · ALTERO · GAVDET · OMNIS · NACIO”, which translates to “In the blessed reign of Louis XII, another Caesar, the entire nation rejoices”.

This inscription glorifies Louis XII’s rule by likening him to a new Caesar, underscoring the prosperity and joy of his people under his reign. The Anne of Brittany medallion shows Queen Anne in profile facing left, wearing a short veil capped by the French royal crown, and a necklace with a jewel pendant.

The field is semé (strewn) with fleur-de-lis on the left side and ermine tails on the right, combining the symbols of France and of Brittany (Anne’s ducal lineage).

A lion passant is also present below the bust of the queen, accompanied by the date “1499” cast in the field.

The surrounding Latin inscription reads “LVGDVN · RE · PVBLICA · GAVDENTE · BIS · ANNA · REGNANTE · BENIGNE · SIC · FVI · CONFLATA · 1499”, which translates roughly as “While the Republic of Lyon rejoiced in the second reign of good Queen Anne, thus I was cast in 1499”.

This legend highlights that Anne was Queen of France for a second time (having been queen consort previously, and again with Louis XII) and that the city of Lyon joyously celebrated her return.

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