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.
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'
Place of Origin
Germany (made)
Date
ca. 1533 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Silver
Marks and inscriptions
'OS x ET x SAPIECIA x DABO x VOBIS x CVI x NO x POTERT x COTDICERE x Z C xxx' I will give you speech and wisdom which cannot be denied
'MA. /ECS. LUT. WIT. / xLVxZIx' Martin Luther churchman of Wittenberg
'x I[N] x SILENCIO x ET x SPE x ERIT x FORTITVDO x VESTRA x ESA x 30' In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30
Dimensions
Diameter: 42.5 mm, Weight: 15.8 g
Object history note
Bought in 1905 for £7 9s 5d from Herr Adolph Hess.
Descriptive line
Medal, silver, Martin Luther, by the same unidentified monogrammist as the related records, probably a Mint-master in Saxony, Germany, about 1533
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
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.
Production Note
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.)
Materials
Silver
Subjects depicted
Bust; Heart; Crosses (motifs); Rose (flower); Luther, Martin
Categories
Portraits; Religion; Christianity; Coins & Medals
Collection code
SCP
