Coin (Thaler) Showing John Casimir and John Ernest, Dukes of Saxony
Unknown Artist
1616
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Wt. 1 oz. (28.3 g)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Coins and Medals
Culture
German
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Bashford Dean, 1922
Accession Number
22.122.22
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver Thaler coin from 1616 offers a glimpse into the princely world of early 17th-century Germany. Minted during the reign of John Casimir and John Ernest Dukes of Saxony, it proudly displays their portraits on the obverse, a common numismatic tradition to legitimize rulers and circulate their authority as currency. The Thaler's substantial size—1⅝ inches in diameter and weighing a full ounce—made it a standard large silver coin in the Holy Roman Empire, for trade and as a store of wealth. Crafted by an unknown artist using precision striking techniques on engraved dies, the ...