This is a pewter medal attributed to Matthes Gebel and was probably made in 1530 or 1538. The medal has only the obverse representing the bust of François I King of France facing right, bearded wearing a flat cap.

This medal is based on the stone model by Gebel. However, if differs from it in that François I's beard has been made more pointed. It is certainly unlikely that the portrait was done from the life. This version has a sharply defined hollow reverse, almost clear enough to cast duplicates of the obverse image. This medal was probably cast, although the precision of the image is similar to a struck medal. The reason for this exceptionally clear reverse is unknown; two medals in the Staaliche Münzsammlung in Munich exhibit the same feature: one in bronze, of Otto Heinrich attributed to Gebel, and one in pewter of Johann von Gutenberg Dean of Würzburg attributed to the anonymous Nuremberg master of 1526.

Gebel (ca. 1500-1574) who lived in Nuremberg was considered the most important medallist of his time. Also today he is considered as the most prolific medallist in Nuremberg of the Renaissance period. Habich ascribes 350 medals to him. They are almost all two-sided and thinly cast in silver, lead or bronze. He was friend of Albrecht Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Dürer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Duerer in an advanced age for future generations.