Medal

Object/Work🔺

• Catalog Level:🔺 item (value type: controlled list)
• Type:🔺 medal (value type: authority)

Classification🔺

• Terms:🔺
  decorative arts
  numismatics
  European Art (value type: controlled list)

Titles or Names🔺

• Text:🔺 Medal of Emperor Rudolf II (value type: free text)
  Preference: preferred (value type: controlled list)
  Type: repository

• Text:🔺 Portrait Medal of Emperor Rudolf II
  Preference: alternate

Creation🔺

• Creator Description:🔺 unknown Bohemian (value type: free text)

• Identity:🔺 unknown Bohemian (_value type: authority)
  Role:🔺 goldsmith

• Creation Date:🔺 about 1600 (value type: free text)
  Earliest:🔺 1595 Latest:🔺 1620 (value type: controlled format)

• Creation Place/Original Location: Prague (Bohemai, Czech Republic) (value type: free text and/or controlled format)

Measurements🔺

• Dimensions Description:🔺 4.6 x 3.3 cm (1 13/16 x 1 5/16 inches) (value type: free text)

• Value: 4.6 Unit: cm Type: height
  Value: 3.3 Unit: cm Type: width (value type: controlled format and controlled lists)

Materials and Techniques🔺

• Description:🔺 cast gold (value type: free text)

• Material Name: gold
  Technique Name: burnishing
  casting (value type: authority)

Inscriptions/Marks

• Transcription or Description: obverse, “RVDOLPHVS II ROM IMP SVG REX HVNG BOE”. Inscribed on the obverse: RVDOLPHVS II ROM IMP AVG REX HVNG BOE; on the reverse: ASTRVM FLVGET CAES (value type: free text)

Subject Matter🔺

• Indexing Terms:🔺
  numismatic object
  Rudolf II (Holy Roman emperor, 1552-1612)
  power
  victory
  Capricorn (Zodiac)
  Ceasar Augustus (Roman emperor, 63 BCE-14 CE)
  peace
  laurel
  wreath (value type: authority)

Descriptive Note

• Text: The subject of the obverse are the Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II wearing a laurel wreath. The subject of the reverse is the ram, zodiac sign of the constellation Capricorn, referring to Augustus Caesar, who was conceived under this sign, suggesting an analogy between Rudolf and Caesar. The Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II minted this medal in imitation of ancient rulers, celebrating his power and dominion. He wears a laurel wreath, sign of victory and peace, and the chain and pendant of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The casting is of very high quality, evident in the subtle differentiation of textures on the medal. (value type: free text)

• Citation: J. Paul Getty Museum online (value type: authority)
  Page: accessed 18 July 2024 (value type: free text)

Current Location🔺

• Repository Name/Geographic Location:🔺 J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, California, United States) (value type: authority)
  Repository Numbers:🔺 92.NJ.87 (value type: free text)

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NOTE: 🔺 indicates a core CDWA category.

Revised 1 August 2024
by Emily Benoff