210, Lot: 369. Estimate $100. Sold for $131. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Papal Medals. Julius III (Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte). 1550-1555. Æ Medal (28mm, 11.58 g, 12h). Dated year 5 (1554/5). IVLIVS · III · PONT · MAX ·, bust right, wearing mantum; trefoil stops / ANNONA · PONT · A · V, Ceres seated left on rock, holding grain ears and cornucopia; modius to left, prow to right. Mazio 71; Lincoln 547; DDL pl. IX, 2. EF.

From the Luparello Collection.

The last of the high Renaissance Popes, Julius III was born in Rome and, early in his papacy, reopened the Council of Trent at the request of Charles V. He initially supported a campaign against France and the Farnese, but later backed away into neutrality and suspended the Council. His pontificate was surrounded by a scandal which involved his adopted Cardinal Nephew, Innocenzo Ciocchi Del Monte.