ITALY, Toscana (Grand Duchy). Cosimo III de Medici. 1670-1723. AR Pezza Della Rosa (42mm, 25.91 g, 7h). Livorno mint. Dated 1701. Crowned coat-of-arms / Rose bush. MIR 66/7; Davenport 1499; KM 15.3. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6898707-010, graded AU 58.
From the Alexander Christopher Collection.
The longest-reigning Grand Duke in the history of Toscana, Cosimo III was born to Ferdinando II de' Medici and Vittoria della Rovere. At the behest of his mother, he was raised with a religiously-oriented education, ultimately serving as the catalyst to the reactionary policies made throughout his reign. Poor management of the grand duchy, however, left Toscana in a fledgling economic state upon Cosimo's death and his son and successor, Gian Gastone, served as the final member from the de' Medici family.
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