Allegorie op het slechte bewind van Maximiliaan, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1488

This small, silver coin, created in 1488, is an example of a satirical medal, a genre that was popular in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The artwork, housed in the Rijksmuseum, depicts a caricature of Maximilian I, Archduke of Austria, who reigned from 1493 to 1519. The inscription on the coin reads "Allegory of the Bad Rule of Maximilian, Archduke of Austria." This satirical piece likely reflects the public perception of Maximilian's rule, which was considered to be both oppressive and ineffective. The artwork's small size and inscription make it an effective and poignant critique of Maximilian's reign.