Martin Luther thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Martin Luther

Medal
ca. 1533 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Germany (made)

This medal showing the bust of Martin Luther is made by an unknown artist in about 1533 in Germany.

This monogrammist has been variously identified with Hieronymus Magdeburger and Michael Hohenauer. Although Hohenauer is more likely, the identity of this medallist remains uncertain. He possibly worked at the Joachimsthal Mint.


Object details

Categories
Access_to_Images 2003
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Christianity
Religion
SCRAN
Object type
Medal
TitleMartin Luther (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silver
Silver
Brief description
Medal, silver, Martin Luther, by the same unidentified monogrammist as the related records, probably a Mint-master in Saxony, Germany, about 1533
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse: bust to the left wearing cap and gown
'OS x ET x SAPIECIA x DABO x VOBIS x CVI x NO x POTERT x COTDICERE x Z C xxx'
to left of the head: MA./ECS. To right: LUT./WIT.
Above head: xLVxZIx
on the reverse: Luther's emblem, a heart charged with a cross on a cinquefoil rose. 'x I[N] x SILENCIO x ET x SPE x ERIT x FORTITVDO x VESTRA x ESA x 30'
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 42.5mm
  • Weight: 15.8g
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'OS x ET x SAPIECIA x DABO x VOBIS x CVI x NO x POTERT x COTDICERE x Z C xxx' (Latin. The text is from the Gospel According to St Luke, chapter 21, verse 15. It runs around the obverse border of the medal.)
    Translation
    I will give you speech and wisdom which cannot be denied
  • 'MA. /ECS. LUT. WIT. / xLVxZIx' (Obverse, around the head)
    Translation
    Martin Luther churchman of Wittenberg
  • 'x I[N] x SILENCIO x ET x SPE x ERIT x FORTITVDO x VESTRA x ESA x 30' (Latin; Reverse)
    Translation
    In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30
Object history
Bought in 1905 for £7 9s 5d from Herr Adolph Hess.
Production
By the same unidentified monogrammist as the related records, probably a Mint-master in Saxony. This monogrammist has been variously identified with Hieronymus Magdeburger and Michael Hohenauer. Although Hohenauer is more likely, the identity of this medallist remains uncertain. He possibly worked at the Joachimsthal Mint. (Habich, II, 1, p.272.Habich, G. 'Die Deutschen Medailleure des XVI. Jahrhunderts' Munich, 1929-34.)
Subjects depicted
Bust
Rose (Flower)
Heart
Crosses (Motifs)
Luther, Martin
Summary
This medal showing the bust of Martin Luther is made by an unknown artist in about 1533 in Germany.

This monogrammist has been variously identified with Hieronymus Magdeburger and Michael Hohenauer. Although Hohenauer is more likely, the identity of this medallist remains uncertain. He possibly worked at the Joachimsthal Mint.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. German Renaissance Medals. Victoria & Albert Museum, 1990. 128p., ill. ISBN 1851770135.
  • List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1905, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 73
  • Habich, G. catalog II, I , p. 272, no. 1895, pl. CCI, 4.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
345-1905

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Record createdMarch 1, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94224/martin-luther-medal-unknown/
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