Object Description
22 FRANQOIS, Duke of Valois (1494-1547), afterwards King Francis I 1504
Obv. Bust to right. Around, . FRANCOIS . DVC . DE . VALOIS . COMTE . DANGOLESME . AV . X . AN . D . S . EA
Rev. Salamander amid flames. Around, . NOTRISCO . ALBVONO . STINGO . EL REO . MCCCCCIIII
Bronze, 65 mm.
The salamander has the power to extinguish fire without burning. It first appears here as the device of Francis I. The device was inherited from Francis' father, Charles de Valois, due d'Angouleme, who died in 1496. The medal has a pendant piece of Louise de Savoie and her daughter Marguerite de Valois-Angouleme (Corpus, no. 852). Bought at auction, Hotel Drouet, Paris, 15 June 1923, Lot 2, pl. I.
Bibl: Corpus, no. 848; Arm. 2, p. 187, 1 (as French); Kress, no. 232; Habich, pl. 62, 10; Fabriczy, p. 165, pl. 33, 5; Mazerolle, no. 68; Supino, no. 814; Tresor Fr. i, pl. 6, 4; Van Mieris i, p. 378; Tervarent, cols. 333-34 (for the salamander device).
