Ercole on Horseback [reverse] c. 1472

This bronze medal, created by Baldassare d'Este in c. 1472, depicts the figure of Hercules on horseback. The medal's reverse side features an inscription in Latin that translates to "Hercules, the greatest of all". The high relief and detailed rendering of Hercules's musculature and the horse's anatomy are characteristic of the Italian Renaissance style. The circular shape and small size, measuring only 9.25 cm in diameter, suggest that this medal may have been intended as a personal memento or a token of appreciation.