Sabinian (604-6) Cast Bronze Medal

Bronze restitution medal of Pope Sabinian (Sabinianus I); (after)cast of a 1500s cast original. Obverse depicts Pope facing left; a lacquered finish obscures some detail. Reverse depicts a walled Rome. The inscription FELIX ROMA reads like wish fulfillment, however: Sabinian's policy of charging for grain from the papal granaries made him so unpopular that, in order to avoid hostile demonstrations, his funeral procession had to make a detour outside the city walls to reach St. Peter's.