Geboorte van Maria Theresia, aartshertogin van Oostenrijk 1764 - 1776

This silver medal was created by Johann Caspar Thürmann to commemorate the birth of Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria. On one side, we see a profile of Maria’s mother, while the other side shows a seated allegorical figure holding a palm branch. The palm branch, an ancient symbol of victory and eternal life, stretches back to Roman triumphs and early Christian martyrdom. Here, its presence at the birth of Maria Theresa suggests an auspicious beginning, perhaps alluding to the future triumphs and legacy she would embody. Like the ‘prudentia’ seen in Renaissance portraiture, the palm has become a signifier for the power, virtue, and destiny linked to Maria’s birth. Consider how such symbols evolve, carrying echoes of the past into the present. The image of the palm branch, laden with historical and emotional weight, engages our collective memory and speaks to our subconscious understanding of power and continuity. The past, once again, is ever present.