Austria, Ferdinand I, King of Hungary and Bohemia (1527-1531), cast silver medal, dated 1529, by Hieronymus Magdeburger, legend in two concentric circles, FERDINANDVS DEI GRACIA HVNGARIAE BOEMIAE ET C REX- ANNO DOMINI MDXXIX ETATIS SVAE XXV, bust of Ferdinand to left, wearing wide brimmed hat and badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, rev. legend in two concentric circles, DA MICHI VIRTVTEM CONTRA HOSTES TVOS DOMINE- ADIVTOR MEVS ES QVIA TV, shield of Austria set upon a blossoming cross, four other shields in the angles, 44mm. (Habich 1887, tf.CC,4; Katz 36; J Boublikova-Jahnova, The Medal 22, p.13, fig.2; Bachtell 14A, 'showtaler of Annaberg'), trace of mount at 12 o'clock, very fine
Austria, Ferdinand I, King of Hungary and Bohemia (1527-1531), cast silver medal, dated 1529, by Hieronymus Magdeburger, legend in two concentric circles, FERDINANDVS DEI GRACIA HVNGARIAE BOEMIAE ET C REX- ANNO DOMINI MDXXIX ETATIS SVAE XXV, bust of Ferdinand to left, wearing wide brimmed hat and badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, rev. legend in two concentric circles, DA MICHI VIRTVTEM CONTRA HOSTES TVOS DOMINE- ADIVTOR MEVS ES QVIA TV, shield of Austria set upon a blossoming cross, four other shields in the angles, 44mm. (Habich 1887, tf.CC,4; Katz 36; J Boublikova-Jahnova, The Medal 22, p.13, fig.2; Bachtell 14A, 'showtaler of Annaberg'), trace of mount at 12 o'clock, very fine

Details
Austria, Ferdinand I, King of Hungary and Bohemia (1527-1531), cast silver medal, dated 1529, by Hieronymus Magdeburger, legend in two concentric circles, FERDINANDVS DEI GRACIA HVNGARIAE BOEMIAE ET C REX- ANNO DOMINI MDXXIX ETATIS SVAE XXV, bust of Ferdinand to left, wearing wide brimmed hat and badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, rev. legend in two concentric circles, DA MICHI VIRTVTEM CONTRA HOSTES TVOS DOMINE- ADIVTOR MEVS ES QVIA TV, shield of Austria set upon a blossoming cross, four other shields in the angles, 44mm. (Habich 1887, tf.CC,4; Katz 36; J Boublikova-Jahnova, The Medal 22, p.13, fig.2; Bachtell 14A, 'showtaler of Annaberg'), trace of mount at 12 o'clock, very fine
Provenance
Rothschild inv. no. LR148.

Lot Essay

Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria (1521-1527) and King of Hungary and Bohemia (1527-1531), is here depicted in the wide brimmed hat in a pose familiar through the painted portraits by Hans Maler of the Prince at the age of 21. The portrait, copied earlier by the medallist Hans Daucher, included a large gold hat badge, the only element missing in the Magdeburger portrait. The date 1529, and the legend, which can be translated as 'Give me strength against my enemies Lord, for you are my helper', refer to Ferdinand's campaigns against the Turks, who were laying siege to Vienna at the time. Ferdinand was elected king of Rome (1531-1558), and on the abdication of his brother, Charles V, he became Holy Roman Emperor (1558-1564).

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