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