Penning met het portret van Karel VI en de namen van de Boheemse koningen 1711 - 1720

This is an undated, anonymous medal portraying Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, surrounded by the names of Bohemian Kings. Its small scale suggests it was made for private rather than public display, perhaps for a member of the court or a collector of antiquities. The medal’s power lies in its visual codes. Charles is adorned with a laurel wreath, a classical reference to Roman emperors, while the surrounding names and dates create a historical tableau of Bohemian rulers, framing Charles as part of a long and illustrious lineage. Produced during the late Baroque period in Central Europe, the medal reflects the Habsburg dynasty's preoccupation with legitimizing its rule through historical associations. Knowledge of court culture is essential to understanding its intended audience. Numismatics, the study of coins and medals, would provide additional insights into the circulation and reception of this object. Ultimately, this medal is a reminder that art is always embedded in a web of social, political, and institutional forces.