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Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Medal
1550 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Germany (made)

Medal depicts on the obverse the enthroned figure of Charles V, crowned, holding an orb and sword. The reverse shows the enthroned figure of Christ, crowned with thorns, holding orb and sceptre.

The medal commemorates the 50th birthday of Charles V.

Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Royalty
Christianity
Religion
Object type
Medal
TitleCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silver
Silver
Brief description
Medal, silver, Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, Germany, dated 1550
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse the enthroned figure of Charles V, crowned, holding an orb and sword. It has a wreathed border and the inscription: V.G.GNADEN.KAROLVS.DER.V.RO.KAISER.WART.GEBORN.IM - 1500

The reverse shows the enthroned figure of Christ, crowned with thorns, holding orb and sceptre and the inscription:
'.IHESVS.CHRISTVS.AIN.KYNIG.IN.HIMEL.VND.DER.ERDEN.1550'

The medal has a suspension ring.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Weight: 32.8g
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'V.G.GNADEN.KAROLVS.DER.V.RO.KAISER.WART.GEBORN.IM - 1500' (German; Obverse)
    Translation
    Praise God Charles V Holy Roman Emperor was born in 1500
  • '.IHESVS.CHRISTVS.AIN.KYNIG.IN.HIMEL.VND.DER.ERDEN.1550' (reverse, German)
    Translation
    Jesus Christ one king on heaven and earth 1550
Object history
Bought in 1907 for £9 11s 6d from Spink & Son.
Historical context
Commemorates the 50th birthday of Charles V.
Subjects depicted
Emperor
Throne
Crown
Orb
Sword
Wreath
Crown of Thorns
Sceptre
Charles v (Holy Roman Emperor)
Jesus Christ
Summary
Medal depicts on the obverse the enthroned figure of Charles V, crowned, holding an orb and sword. The reverse shows the enthroned figure of Christ, crowned with thorns, holding orb and sceptre.

The medal commemorates the 50th birthday of Charles V.
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 1907, 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. 56
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
351-1907

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94349/charles-v-holy-roman-emperor-medal-unknown/
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