ITALY, Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Florence. Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke, 1590-1608-1621. Medal (Silver, 40 mm, 29.34 g, 12 h), struck prize medal by Gaspare Mola (c. 1580-1640), 1618. COSMVS•II•MAG• - DVX•ETRVRIÆ•IIII Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Cosimo II to right; on the truncation, G•MOL•; in the field to right, in tiny numerals, 1618. Rev. PREMIA - VIRTVTIS Grandducal crown over a vertical fleur-de-lis tipped scepter; around, the six balls of the Medici arms, with the one at top containing three fleurs-de-lis. Börner 1062 (obverse) and 717 (reverse). Flaten, Middeldorf Collection, 43. Extremely rare. Beautifully toned and very well-struck. Minor die fault on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant, and that of the late Luc Smolderen, Künker 282, 28 September 2016, 4491, acquired in 1955 from P. Tinchant (1893-1981).