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Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Medal
1550 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a triangular lead medal made in Germany in 1550 by an unknown master. The obverse of the medal represents the bust of Charles V facing right, bearded and wearing a hat and armour. The reverse shows the bust of Alexander the Great facing left. This medal has a suspension ring. The inscriptions point up the parallels between Charles V and Alexander the Great, by naming Charles 'Carolus Maximus.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Lead
Brief description
Medal, lead, triangular, Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, Germany, 1550
Physical description
Triangular medal with suspension ring.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.5cm
  • Width: 3.5cm
  • Weight: 7.3g
Object history
Provenance: Tross. 140 medals and reliefs were purchased from M. Henri Tross of Paris for £500 by J.C. Robinson for the Museum in 1867.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a triangular lead medal made in Germany in 1550 by an unknown master. The obverse of the medal represents the bust of Charles V facing right, bearded and wearing a hat and armour. The reverse shows the bust of Alexander the Great facing left. This medal has a suspension ring. The inscriptions point up the parallels between Charles V and Alexander the Great, by naming Charles 'Carolus Maximus.'
Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. German Renaissance Medals: A Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1990, p. 114
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1867. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 20
Collection
Accession number
149-1867

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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