ITALY, Papal States. Rome. Julius III (Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte), 1550-1555. Medal (Bronze, 33.5 mm, 10.53 g, 12 h), a cast, on the wisdom of the Pope, by Alessandro Cesati, il Grechetto, Rome, undated but 1550 (though a later cast of the 18th century). ⸫IVLIVS⸫III⸫PONT⸫MAX⸫✶ Bust of Julius III to right wearing decorated pluviale; below, olive and laurel branches crossed. Rev. ΚΡΑΤΟΥΜΑΙ (= I am being held/ruled) Fortuna, nude but for her cloak, which she holds with her two hands and billows behind her head, running to left, but restrained by Prudentia, draped, who stands behind her and holds her by the hair; to the right, snake twined around the handle of a mirror into which it looks. Armand I, p. 173, 12. Molinari 34 (the reverse only). Cf. TV, XVI, 2089 (but struck). Attractive, with a fine portrait, an allegorical reverse and a lovely reddish-brown patina. About extremely fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant.

The reverse refers to the Pope's careful prudence, by which he tempered the vagaries of fortune.