Giovanni del Cavino; Nero (37-68 BCE); Emperor 54-68 BCE; n.d.; brass; 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm.); Giovanni del Cavino was known for creating exact reproductions of ancient coins; such as this 'medal' based on a sestertius of Nero. Many contemporary connoisseurs of the time respected and deeply admired Cavino's ability to imitate Roman artisans. The high concentration of zinc in this medal indicates its high-quality manufacturing because zinc's low boiling point makes it a very challenging metal. The small scale of this piece helped achieve the high-zinc brass metallic composition; yielding an exceptional example of Renaissance brass medals.