Watch List notes:

ITALY, Tuscany. Florence. Cosimo I de Medici, Duke of Florence, later Grand Duke of Tuscany, 1537-1569-1574. Medal (Bronze, 34 mm, 26.59 g, 6 h), an original struck example by Domenico di Polo de' Vetri (after 1480-c. 1547), Florence, after c. 1537. ・COSMVS ・MED・・・ II・ REI・P・ FLOR・ DVX・ Bareheaded and cuirassed bust of Cosimo I to right, with light beard. Rev. *:ANIMI:CONSCIENTIA:ET:FIDVCIA:FATI: (=an awareness of the soul and a trust in fate) Capricorn to left; above to right, eight stars. Attwood 783. Kress 315 = NG 360. A lovely piece with a rich, dark reddish brown patina. Some minor marks, otherwise, good very fine.

From a European collection, ex Nomos 5, 25 October 20111, 16 and ex Spink 8019, 24 September 2008, 190.

The sign of Capricorn was used by Augustus as his signet, and it was adopted by Cosimo I to stress the parallels between them: Augustus ultimately came to power after his adoptive father Caesar was assassinated and Cosimo was made duke after the murder of his cousin Alessandro, the first Duke of Florence. Cosimo was the son of one of the greatest Italian generals of the age, Giovanni dalle Bande Nere (1498-1526), and was, thus, somewhat removed from the main line of the Medici family. He was born in 1519 and the notables of Florence thought he would be easily controllable; they were proven wrong.