Elegant Silver Medal of Archduke Matthias of Austria

By Jonghelnick, 1578

Jaques Jonghelinck (1530-1606). Portrait Medal of Archduke Matthias of Austria (1557-1619).

41.1 x 40.9 mm. 46.7 grams. Silver. Van Loon 247.3. Portrait in high ruff collar to right, MATTHIAS D . G . ARCHI . AVST . D . BVRG . CO . TY . Zc . GVBER . Z at periphery, CAP. GRL. BELG on second line at left, 1578 incuse at bust truncation / Perseus and Andromeda with a sea serpent, AMAT VICTORIA CVRAM above. Medal turn. A fine contemporary cast with exceptional detail and eye appeal. Smoothed and chased in the fields, boldly detailed on both sides. Edges elegantly smoothed. Nice medium gray with subtle iridescence. Jonghelinck worked with Leoni in Milan, giving the medals of this Antwerp native an Italianate style. His elegant and distinctive artistry makes his medals among the most desirable from the Low Countries in this era. This 1578-dated medal is significantly scarcer than a similar one dated 1579.

From the Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals. Earlier from the Jonathan H. Kagan Collection of Renaissance Medals.

Estimate: $6000.00 - $9000.00