Elisabeth Christina echtgenote van Karel VI, Duits keizer 1708

This medal, made by the Monogrammist R, likely commemorates Elisabeth Christina, wife of Charles VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. The monochrome medium throws emphasis on the crispness of the forms achieved through die-striking. Consider the formal composition of the obverse side. The relief presents a regal bust in profile, surrounded by Latin script. The texture of her hair, the drape of her garments, and the precision of the lettering indicate a high degree of artistic skill and attention to detail. On the reverse, a rearing horse tethered by a delicate string suggests a powerful force gently yet firmly controlled. As a semiotic structure, the medal communicates power through controlled imagery. The horse, a symbol of strength and freedom, is bound to heavenly script reading "ad nutum Dei". This phrase translates to "at the nod of God," suggesting the divine source from which earthly power is derived. The imagery invokes a discourse around authority, legitimacy, and the relationship between the temporal and the divine. The circular form of the medal is a potent symbol of completeness, unity, and unbroken power.