Back

Austria - 1815

Retour de François Ier à Milan - better

Obverse:

Two shields surmounted by the Iron Crown of Italy. A complex device combining the Anchor and Plough of Venice and Milan.

Legend:

FRANCISCVS AVSTR. IMP. II VN. BOH. LONGOB. VENET. GAL. ET LOD. REX A. A.

Size:

22 mm.

Reverse:

An imperial crown.

Legend:

FIDES NOVI REGNI SACRAMENTO FIRMATA MEDIOLANI XV. MAII MDCCCXV.

Vern's Comments:

At the Congress of Vienna (June 9th, 1815) Austria was confirmed in her possession of the cities of Milan and Venice as before the Napoleonic era. Both cities were occupied by Austrian troops following the French retreat after Waterloo. On April 7th, 1815 Milan and Venice were unified under the Regno Lombardo Veneto with Milan as capital town. The area was limited to old Milan Ducato and included towns of Mantova, Cremona, Bergamo, Como, Sondrio, Pavia, Lodi and Cremona in Milan's sphere of influence and the towns of Padova, Vicenza, Verona, Treviso, Udine, Rovigo and Belluno in the Venice area.

In 1818 the Archduke of Austria Ranieri of Ausburg Lorena (1783-1853), younger brother of Frances I was appointed "Vicerè" (Regent). He married Maria Elisabetta di Savoia-Carignano sister of Carlo Alberto di Savoia King of Italy from 1831 to 1849. Ranieri ruled for more than 30 years up to 1848, assisted by two governors, first in Milan and the other in Venice.

Following is an explanation of the obverse legend:
(AVSTRIAE IMPERATOR HVNGARIE BOHEMIAE LOMBARDIAE VENETIAE GALICIAE ET LODOMERIAE REX ARCHIDVX AVSTRIAE). Roughly, this means Franz; Austrian Emperor, Hungarian Bohemian, Lombardy Venetian Archduke of Austria. There is the symbol of Milan with the crowned snake eating a kid (from the Visconti family, early 12th century) on right and Venetian San Marco's winged lion holding an open Gospels (meaning that the Serenissima Republic is peaceful). Above, the Iron Crown of Italy (which has one of the Holy Nails of the Cross of Jesus in it). In the field, an Anchor (Venice) and Plough (Milan).

An explanation of the reverse legend:
FIDES NOVI REGNI // SACRAMENTO FIRMATA // MEDIOLANI XV.MAII // MDCCCXV.
Loyalty to the new Holy kingdom signed - Milan May 15th, 1815.

This token was struck to celebrate the oath of allegiance of Lombardy towns part of Kingdom Lombardo-Veneto to Frances I of Austria. During the celebration (May 15, 1815) several of these tokens in silver and copper were thrown to people from the Archduke Giovanni of Austria.

The engraver was the talented Luigi Manfredini. Though referred to as a lira it was struck on an unusual size planchet. This medal or token can be considered scarce. This information was provided by an expert on Italian numismatics, Nicolò Pirera of Italy.

Thanks, Nicolò!

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 2310
Retour de François Ier à Milan. (Manfredini.)

Comme celui du N^o 1616.

Rev: Dans le champ, sous la couronne royale: FIDES NOVI REGNI SACRAMENTO FIRMATA MEDIOLANI XV. MAII MDCCCXV.

FRANCISCVS AVSTR. IMP. HVN. BOH. LONGOB. VENET. GAL. ET LOD. REX A. A.; dans le champ: les écussons de Milan et de Venice surmontés de la couronne de fer; dessous: des emblêms de la paix.

Médaille, 23 mm. - Cabinet de l'auteur.

Milan:

Milan - 879
Francesco I d'Austria Milano Giuramento di sudditanza delle Province Lombarde

D. FRANCISCVS AVSTR. IMP. HVN. BOH. LONGOB. VENET. GAL. ET LOD. REX A. A.
Nel centro, al centro, scudi affiancati, sormontati dalla corona ferrea, a s.; di Milano, con biscia viscontea, ed a d., di Venezia con Leone di San Marco; nel campo, in basso, al centro, aratro ed ancora intrecciati. Contorno a piatto e gola.

R. Nel campo, in alto, al centro, corona imperiale ed in basso, in quattro righe: FIDES NOVI REGNI SACRAMENTO FIRMATA MEDIOLANI XV. MAII MDCCCXV. Contorno a piatto e gola.

Autore: MANFREDINI(?);

Data: 1815

Caratteristiche tecniche: Argento;

Ømm 22,6; 0; Coniazione

Condizione giuridica: Commune n.1715; N. Inv.: M.0.9.27652

Bibl.: Bramsen, n.2310; Julius, n. ---; Essling, n. 1572; Millin, n. ---; De Félissent, n.---; Pagani, n.512; Martini n.53 (questo esemplare)

Retour de François Ier à Milan - better