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The Medici Granducal Archive:
Documents for Jewish History, Religion and Culture

SAMPLE DOCUMENT No.6
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Duke Cosimo I acquires antique medals from the Jew Jacobiglio in Venice (1561)

Citation: Archivio di Stato di Firenze, Mediceo del Principato 213, f.43v.

File copy of letter from Duke Cosimo de'Medici (Florence) to Piero Gelido (Venice)

Date: 25 April 1561

DOCUMENT


Al Pero a Venetia, adì 25 d'aprile (1561)

". . . Le medaglie di Jacobiglio si son ricevute et ci sono state molto grate; piglieremole tutte, senza farne cappata, pagandogli l'auree et l'argentee altanto più di quel che pesano, si come già ci scriveste. L'altre di bronzo poi che non gli costano nulla, le accetteremo in cortesia come habbiamo fatto queste, che non ci sono dispiaciute, ringratiatenele per nostra parte, et ditegli pure che faccia provedere dell'altre d'ogni sorte, perche al medesimo prezzo ne piglieremo quante ce ne manderà . . . "

TRANSLATION


To Piero in Venice, on the 25th of April (1561)

. . . We were very glad to receive Jacobiglio's medals and we will take all of them without bothering to make a choice. We will pay for the gold and the silver ones at somewhat over the value of their weight. Since those other bronze medals didn't cost him anything, we will accept them as a gift, as we were pleased to accept the present ones. Thank him on our behalf, and tell him to provide more of every sort, since we will take as many as he sends us at that price...

NOTES


The relationship between Duke Cosimo I de'Medici and "Jacobiglio Hebreo"(as he is described in other letters in this series) is documented from 1559 through 1564. This Jewish dealer in classical coins, medals, cameos and engraved gems was based in Venice, though he had commercial and evidently family connections in Constantinople, which was probably the origin of his stock in trade.

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