4-ducat piece, Francis Joseph I of Austria, 1888, 40th anniversary of the Emperor's accession

Unknown Artist

1888

4-ducat piece, Francis Joseph I of Austria, 1888, 40th anniversary of the Emperor's accession by Unknown Artist

Medium

Gold

Dimensions

Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (57 mm.)

Classification

Coins

Culture

Austrian

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of H.R. Ickelheimer, 1909

Accession Number

09.9.7

Tags

KingsProfiles

Art Historical Context

Behold the resplendent 4-ducat gold coin struck in 1888 to celebrate the 40th anniversary Emperor Francis Joseph I's accession to the Austrian throne With a generous diameter of 2¼ inches (57 mm), substantial piece gleams with imperial prestige, its golden surface capturing the era's opulence. Minted during the height of the Austro-Hung Empire, it honors a monarch whose 68-year reign shaped Central European history amid political upheavals and cultural flourishing. The coin's design features regal profiles emblematic of royal portraiture, showcasing the emperor's dignified likeness—a nod to c...

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