ITALY. Firenze. Cosimo I, Duke, later Grand Duke of Tuscany, 1537-1569-1574. Medal 1561 (Bronze, 42 mm, 33.58 g, 7 h), on the capture of Siena. By D. Poggini. COSMVS MED•FLOREN•ET SENAR•DVX II Draped and cuirassed bust of Cosimo I to right. Rev. HETRV - RIA PACATA Concordia standing facing, head to left, holding a standard in her right hand and a cornucopiae in her left; behind, the lion of Florence to left and the she-wolf with twins of Sienna to right. Armand I, 256, 12. Attwood 813. Pollard 390a. Toderi/Vannel 1465. A beautifully preserved and struck original. Tiny deposits on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.



Cosimo I de’ Medici, son of the condottiere Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498-1526), is an early example of the ambitious Renaissance prince. His ruthless yet calculated methods embodied Machiavelli’s ideal of the Principe. Ascending the throne at just seventeen, he quickly asserted control over the Florentine Republic and, through an authoritarian style of rule and relentless expansionism, transformed it into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. A key step in this ascent was the Florentine conquest of wealthy Siena, commemorated by the medal.

In the War of Siena (1552-1559) - itself part of the broader Franco-Spanish conflicts in Italy - the Republic of Siena, allied with France, faced the Habsburgs, Naples, Sicily, and Florence under Cosimo’s leadership. After an eight-month siege, Siena capitulated with honor in April 1555. Its territories were subsequently granted to Cosimo I de’ Medici as a personal fief.