Medal: Sultan Mehmed II 1481

This silver medal, created by Italian Renaissance artist Costanzo da Ferrara in 1481, depicts Sultan Mehmed II, the Ottoman ruler who conquered Constantinople in 1453. The medal, which is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of Renaissance portraiture. The inscription around the edge of the medal identifies Mehmed as the “Sultan of the Ottoman Empire,” and the realistic portrayal of the Sultan’s profile is a testament to the artist’s skill in capturing likeness. The medal, a significant object in the history of art, is a testament to the increasing prominence of the Ottoman Empire in 15th century Europe.