Cosimo I de' Medici (obverse), Alessandro de' Medici (reverse)

This medal was probably issued shortly after Cosimo I de’ Medici came to power in 1537. His image is clearly based on Pontormo’s drawing. In ordering a medal that showed both him and his predecessor, Cosimo was following the practice of ancient Roman emperors, and especially Augustus, who had coins minted bearing his own likeness along with that of Julius Caesar, who, like Alessandro, had been murdered.