AUSTRIA satirical bronze medal 1742

AUSTRIA satirical bronze medal 1742

$75.00

AUSTRIA, medal, 1742, Obverse: naked Maria Theresa next to Cardinal Fleury, Charles VII walks away with her underpants, speech banner: J’AI GAGNE, DIE ENTBLOSSEN KONINGIN VON UNGERN MDCCXLII, Reverse: Maria Theresa puts on Bavarian lederhosen, Charles VII walks away with his crown falling, on speech banner: VOUS AVEZ PERDU, DIE: KONINGIN: VON: UNGERN: ZIERT: EIN: BEITJERSCHE: HOSEN: AN MDCCXLII, silvered bronze 40mm, 16.08g, refers to the political maneuvering involving Prussia and other actors that was part of the War of the Austrian Succession. In this medal Prussia has the advantage. Crude, only traces of silvering remain, VF

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Description

This medal is more than a bit scandalous, and conceivably could be construed as and act of lese majeste, which was a capital offense. I ask myself why this would be legal in Austria. Seems like it should be a Prussian item. There was no freedom of the press in Austria at that time.

Medals were like cheap art in the 18th century. Since they were made of coin metal, you could always try to spend them, maybe that would work sometimes.

There are two kinds of things that are called “medals.” One is things that look like coins but don’t express a value. Sometimes those medals are considerably larger than most coins. The other kind of medal is a metal thing designed to be displayed on one’s chest, often a reward for something, often in a military context. If the medal is small enough it is sometimes called a “medallet.”

The word “exonumia” is used to describe all kinds of things that are “like” coins but are not coins. I wrote a blog post on that subject. Basic categories: 1. used like a coin but not issued by a national government, 2. looks like a coin but not made for spending, 3. other things that we are interested in.

 

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