Coin (Thaler) Showing John Casimir and John Ernest
Unknown Artist
dated 1625
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam. 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm); thickness 1/16 in. (0.2 cm); Wt. 1 oz. (28.3 g)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Coins and Medals
Culture
German, Saxony
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Bashford Dean, 1923
Accession Number
23.135.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking silver Thaler coin, in Saxony, Germany, in 1625, features portraits of John Casimir and John Ernestlikely noble brothers or co-rulers from the region's princely houses. Measuring just 1¾ inches in diameter and weighing one ounce, its modest size belies its role as a substantial unit of currency in the Holy Roman. The Thaler's large format allowed for intricate engraving, showcasing finely detailed profiles, inscriptions, and heraldic symbols that conveyed authority and prestige. Crafted during the early years of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), a devastating conflict that rava...