ITALY, Tuscany. Florence. Cosimo I, Duke, later Grand Duke of Tuscany, 1537-1569-1574. Medal (Bronze, 40 mm, 31.99 g, 6 h), by D. Poggini (1520-1590), 1561. COSMVS MED.FLOREN.ET SENAR.DVX II. Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Cosimo I to right; below truncation, 1561. Rev. HETRVRIA PACATA Concordia standing facing, her head to left, holding a standard in her right hand and a cornucopiae in her left; behind her, the lion of Florence to left and the she-wolf with twins of Sienna to right. Attwood 813. A sharp and attractive early cast with a fine brown patina. Traces of a removed mount above Cosimo’s head, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant, ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 38 and Künker 141, 19 June 2008, 4403 (but there dated to the 19th century in error).

This medal celebrates Cosimo’s capture of Sienna in 1555 and its incorporation into the Medici state in 1559. The reverse was designed by Cosimo’s friend and artistic advisor, the Benedictine Vincenzo Borghini (1515-1580), who was himself a good friend of Giorgio Vasari.