ITALY, Tuscany. Florence. Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke, 1642-1670-1723. Medal (Copper, 45 mm, 32.55 g, 12 h), by the Austrian engraver J.L.V Wolfgang (fl. 1700-1714), but combining two obverses, 1703. COSMVS III - ETRVSCORVM REX Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Cosimo III to right; below truncation, I.L. - V.W.F. Rev. FLORET VT PHOENIX (=bloom rise like the Phoenix) View of the city of Florence on both sides of the Arno; above, on a banner, VRBS FLORENTIA; in the field above the mountains in the distance, ALP.APENNIN; on the left, above the fortress of St. John the Baptist, C.S.G.BATA; on the right, above the fortress of the Belvedere, F. BELVEDERE; on the river, ARNUS FLV.; below, personification of the Arno reclining to left, with, before him, the crowned lion of Florence bearing the Medici arms; below, I.L. - V.W.F. Bargello III, 147/152 (obverse) and 148-151 (obverse). For a version of this medal, cast in silver, see Meister & Sonntag 3, 2005, 3156 = Meister & Sonntag 17, 2013, 691= Morton & Eden 91, 2017, . Very rare. A lovely struck piece, attractively toned and with some original lustre. Minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant, ex Numismatica Genevensis SA 6, 30 November 2010, 535.

This medal must have been produced as a test piece - combining the two obverses - when the main series of Wolfgang's dies were produced. It is interesting that a cast version, made in silver, of this medal also exists.