Kroning van Frans II tot Duits keizer te Frankfurt 1792

This silver medal commemorates the coronation of Francis II as German Emperor in Frankfurt. The medal, made anonymously, encapsulates the complex intersections of power, identity, and historical narrative. The imagery and text cast a vision of imperial authority. One side features a crown above crossed scepters with the words "Lege Et Fide," signaling law and faith, central tenets of imperial rule. The other side bears an inscription detailing Francis's titles and the date of the coronation. The use of Latin connects Francis to the historical legacy of the Roman Empire, reinforcing his status. But these symbols of authority are not neutral. They are deeply entangled with histories of colonialism, religious conflict, and social inequality. The coronation of Francis II—and this medal produced to celebrate it—was a spectacle of power, designed to solidify the legitimacy of the Habsburg dynasty at a moment of immense social and political change in Europe. Consider how such an object might be viewed by those subjected to imperial rule.