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Ferdinand I,   roman king since 1531, emperor 1556-1564
- brother of emperor Charles V   and   founder of the Austrian line of Habsburg -

Here part 2 :  Ferdinand on medals
back to part 1 :  Ferdinand on coins

Medals on Ferdinand I

Subdivision:
In 1522 Ferdinand took over Austria, Tyrol and Further Austria
At the end of 1526 Ferdinand becomes King of Hungary and Bohemia
In 1531 Ferdinand becomes king of the Holy Roman Empire (ROMANORUM REX)
After the death of his wife in 1547, Ferdinand wears a beard
3.1558 - 9.1558 :  ELectus ROmanorum IMperator
since 1558 :  ROMANORUM IMPERATOR
Ferdinand I and his father Philip I
Ferdinand I and his wife Anna of Hungary
Ferdinand I together with son Maximilian and daughter in law Anna

In 1522 Ferdinand took over Austria, Tyrol and Further Austria from his brother Charles V


Uniface cast medal (1521/22, aetatis XIX) by Hans Schwarz.     Ø 54,5 mm, 35,86 g.
Habich I,1 227; Markl 1992; Kastenholz -.

·FERDINANDuS ARCHIDVX·AVSTRIAE·HISPANIARVM·INFANS·AETATS·XIX·
Compare the medal 1521 by Hans Schwarz on Charles V (Ø 72,5 mm).


Schauguldiner 1522, Klagenfurt.     Ø 42 mm, ca.22,9 g.   Markl 1994; Voglh.30.
Obv.:   *FERDINANDVS·DEI·GRACIA·PRINCEPS·HISPANIARV:   -   The Archduke in armor, the Archduke's hat on his helmet, in his right hand the imperial banner (single-headed eagle with the Austrian shield), riding to the right on the armored horse. The saddlecloth decorated with Burgundian cross, four fire irons and the word VERTI - NA. Below the date 15ZZ.
Rev.:   *ARCHIDVX·AVSTRIE·DVX·BVRGVNDIE·ET·CARINT*   -   Under the archducal hat, the multi-field coat of arms (Austria / New Burgundy, Old Burgundy / Flanders, Castile / Leon, Aragon / both Sicilies) surrounded by the fleece order chain without fleece. Outer ring with the coats of arms of Carinthia (1h), Tyrol, Carniola, Alsace, Old Burgundy, Württemberg, Upper Austria, Styria and Habsburg.
Three fire irons between the lower coats of arms.
VERTINA was interpreted as "Vt fERT divINA voluntas" and proposed as Ferdinand's motto, but Ferdinand's motto is "Fiat iustitia et pereat mundus" (Let justice be done, though the world perish). VERTINA is unlikely to be deciphered.
J. Ch. Kundmann, Nummi singulares, oder Sonderbare Thaler und Münzen, 1731, p.40.

At the end of 1526 Ferdinand becomes King of Hungary and Bohemia.


Uniface cast bronze medal, ca.1526 modelled at the vicinity of Hans Schwarz or Hans Daucher.
Ø 90 mm.     Specimen in the Coin Cabinet from Staatliche Museen, Berlin, exhibited in room 244.
Habich I/1, 110; Winter 113, pl.72.

✱PHILIPpus·REX·CASTiliae·LEG[Leonis]·ET GRANadea·Pater·ET FErDINANDus·REX·VNGariae·ET·BOEmiae
Effigy of Philip the Handsome (King of Kastlien and León) (front) and his son Ferdinands (King of Hungary and Bohemia) to the left, both beardless with hat, cap and chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Philipp additionally with hood with hanging storm band.


1 1/2 Schautaler 1529 by Hieronymus Magdeburger, on the advancing of the Turks against Vienna.
Ø 47 mm, 41,24 g.   Markl 2006; Habich II-1 1887; Katz 36.

Obv.:   *FERDINANDVS◦DEI◦GRACIA◦HVNGARIÆ◦BOEMIÆ◦ETC◦REX
Inner circle:  *ANNO◦DOMINI◦M◦D◦XXIX◦ETATIAS◦SVÆ◦XXV
Bust to the left, hat with wide brim, cloak and order chain with the Golden Fleece around the neck.
Rev.:   *DA⦂MICHI⦂VIRTVTEM⦂CONTRA⦂HOSTES⦂TVOS⦂DOMINE
Inner circle:  QVIA◦TV - ADIVT - OR◦ME - VS◦ES◦
"Give me valour against your enemies, O Lord, for you are my protector"
Coat of arms on floral cross, four escutcheons in the angles.
After the death of King Louis II of Bohemia and Hungary at the Battle of Mohacs 1526, he was succeeded on the throne by his brother-in-law Archduke Ferdinand. Against Ferdinand, Johann Zapolya had himself proclaimed King of Hungary, but had to flee and sought the support of Sultan Süleyman. The latter advanced to Vienna with a huge army. The siege of Vienna lasted from 21 September until it was broken off on 15 October 1529.

In 1531 Ferdinand becomes king of the Holy Roman Empire (ROMANORUM REX)
On January 5, 1531, Ferdinand was elected king in Cologne by the German electors with five votes, but against the protest of the Saxon elector Johann and anointed and crowned by Archbishop Hermann V von Wied in Aachen. Ferdinand was the last ruler of the empire to be crowned in Aachen.

Silver medal 1531.     Ø 19 mm, 1,17 g.   Coll. Montenuovo 599.
Ejection token worth 1/2 Batzen on Ferdinand's coronation as Roman king in Aachen.

Obv.:   FERDI·HVN·ET·BO·REX·ARChiDux·AVstriae.  -  Crowned and armored effigy to the right.
Rev.:   CORO / NATVR·IN / ROM·REGem·AQVISGrani·XI· / IA·A°·M.D. / ·XXXI·
"Coronation as Roman King at Aachen on January 11, 1531"


Presentation coin 1531.     Ø 30 mm, 26,07 g.   Domanig 42; Coll.Lanna 644/645.
On the coronation as Roman king in Aachen.

Obv.:   Busts of Charles V and Ferdinand I one behind the other to the right.
Rev.:   ·CAROL· / ·V·ET·FER·I· / FRatrES·ROmanorum·IMPerator· / ·ET·RE·REges·HISPaniae·VT / RIus9Que3·SICIliae·VNGgariae· / BOEmiae·ZC·ARCHIDuces / AVSTriae·Duces·BVRGundiae / ·M·D·XXXI·


Model in stone 1532, Solnhofen limestone by Hans Daucher     Ø 108 mm, 245,46 g.
Specimen in the Coin Cabinet, Staatl. Kunstsammlungen Dresden

FERD ROM:REX·HVNG:BOEM·EC·ÆTAT·29·1532
Bust on the left, Order of the Golden Fleece on the chest.
Hans Daucher (†1537) in Augsburg worked as a carver in limestone and, in addition to small sculptures, also created a few models for medals. The figure is raised out of the stone, the inscription is engraved or hallmarked. A negative mold is made from the model. In the end product, the legend appears inkus, unlike in the case of stuck pieces, whose dies have an incuse legend.


Show thaler 1532, Klagenfurt.     Ø 45 mm, 26,37 g.   Markl 1444; Voglh.36/2; Dav.-.
Obv.:  FERDI·D·G·ROMA·HVN·BOEM·ƆE·REX·INFANS·HISPANI*
Crowned bust between date 15-3Z.
Rev.:   ARCHIDVX·AVST·ET·C - ARINT·D·STIRI·CARNI  -  In the center the crowned coat of arms of Carinthia, on top crowned imperial coat of arms (eagle with fess-shield), Hungary and Austria on the left, Bohemia and Styria at the right, Carniola at the bottom.


Schautaler 1532, Dies by Michael Hohenauer (earlier attributed to Hieronymus Magdeburger)
Ø 43 mm, 17,18 g.   Katz 48; Markl 2032; Coll.Montenuovo 600.

Obv.:   COR REGIS IN MANV DOMINI ESTI PROVER ZI   "The King's heart is in the hand of God"
Crowned beardless bust on the left.

Rev.:   AQVILA ROMANI IMPERII SIMBOLVM   "The eagle, symbol of the Roman Empire"
One-headed eagle, on the chest coat of arms Austria / Castile, date I5 - 32 to the side of the eagle's head.


Cast medal 1539. Model by Hans Reinhart the elder.     Ø 65 mm, 64,22 g.
Habich II,1 1934; Markl 2035; Slg.Lanna 668.

Obv.:  FERDINANDVS·DEI·GRACIA·ROMAN·VNGARIE·ET·BOEMIE·REX·ANNO·SAL·M·D·XXXVIIII· ÆTATIS·SVÆ·XXXVII  -  Effigy to the left, with a round hat, in a coat, cord with the golden fleece,
a roll in the left hand, the right hand slightly raised.

Rev.:   One-headed, uncrowned eagle to the left, a large quartered shield of Bohemia/Hungary, and central shield of Austria/Castile. The golden fleece with part of the chain below the large shield; between the legs foliage and FERDIN - ANDVS · R - EX. The monogram HR at the claw right. Above the eagle's head as well as to the right and left of the large shield, strings with tassels at the ends.


Double show thaler 1541, Kremnitz.   Ø 52 mm, 56,41 g. MzA 24; Markl 2043; Voglh.33(38 g)
Obv.:   ✠፥FERDINANDVS፥D፥G፥ROM፥HVNG፥BOEM፥DALMA፥CROA፥REX፥  -  King Ferdinand in a pleated skirt armor with the royal crown and the Habsburg peacock bump on the helmet, the order chain of the golden fleece on the chest, the sword belted on the rider's left side, riding to the left on an armored horse. Lower saddle cover decorated with the coat of arms of the Austrian hereditary lands. Exergue: *·I·5·4·I·*
Rev.:   ✠፥INFANS፥HISPANIEN፥ARCHIDVX፥AVSTRIE፥DVX፥BVRGVNDIE፥⁂
Single-headed eagle to the left with halo, on the breast squared shield Hungary / Bohemia,
central arms Austria.
Later editions of this show thaler carry the same obverse.
But the reverse present now the imperial crowned double-headed eagle and the inscription:
፥FERD፥D፥G፥EL፥RO፥IM፥S፥AV፥GER፥HV፥BO፥REX፥INF፥HIS፥ARCHID፥AVS፥ZC፥CO፥TYR
The reverse is then either undated (3.1558-9.1558: ELectus ROmanorum IMperator, Voglh.34)
or marked with the date 15 - 60 on the sides of the eagle necks (Voglh.35).
But in 1560 the addition "ELectus" in Ferdinand's title was no longer in use.

After the death of his wife in 1547, Ferdinand wears a beard.


Cast Silver medal 1548, attributed to Joachim Deschler.   Ø 50 mm.  Domanig 10; Habich 1580.
Specimen from coin cabinet, Kunsthistorische Museum, Vienna.

Obv.:  FERDINANDVS·Dei·Gratia·ROMAnorum·HVNGAriae·BOHEMiae·REX·ARCHIDVX·AUSTiae·ZC[etc]
Bust from the front, bare-headed, bearded, a bump collar at the right arm, an armpit disk at the left arm.
Rev.:   Crowned eagle shield, on it the quartered arms Hungary/Bohemia, on it multi-part coat Austria/Burgundy/Castile/Leon/etc., on it the heart coat Tyrol/Flanders,
around the fleece chain with sparkling flints.
Ferdinand is "Roman King" here (since 1631), he only becomes "Roman Emperor" in 1558.


Cast medal 1548, model by Joachim Deschler.     Ø 28 mm, 12,39 g.
Domanig -; Habich 1576; Markl -.

Obv.:   FERDINAND9·D·G·RO·HVNGA·BO·REX·ARCHIDVX·AVST·Z
Bust left between engraved date 15 - 48.
Rev.:   Saint Andrew's Cross (Cross of Burgundy), in the corners fire irons with sparkling flint stones.


Stuck silver medal 1555, unsigned, by N. Milicz and his workshop.   Ø 48 mm, 35,13 g.
Katz 321.

Obv.:   FERDINANDVS·D·G·ROMA·BOHEMINI·HVNGA·Z·REX·M·D·LV
Armored bust to the left, Orden of the Golden Fleece on the chest.
Rev.:   INFANS HISPANIAR - ARCHIDVX AVSTRIHI   -   One-headed eagle, on the chest a crowned, four-field coat of arms of Bohemia/Hungary with a central shield Austria/Castile.


Cast Bronze medal n. d., about 1551 by Leone Leoni.     Ø 76,9 mm.
Domanig 76; Markl 2016; Attwood 36,37.

Obv.:   ·FERDINAND·D·G·RO·HVNGA·BO·REX·C   (Title from before 1558)
The river god remind people, that the emperor wants to free the Danube countries from the Turks (Domanig).
The model was created in 1551 at the diet of Augsburg, after which it was executed in Milan.
This medal differs from the following medal only in Ferdinand's title in the legend of the obverse.

3.1558 - 9.1558: ELectus ROmanorum IMperator


Cast silver medal (1558) by Leone Leoni.     Ø 71 mm, 72,49 g.   Attwood 56a.
Specimen in The British Museum, London.

Obv.:   ·FERDINAND·ROM·IMP·ELECTVS·   "Ferdinand, elected Roman emperor"  -  Bust to the right; bearded, ornamented cuirass, the Order of the Golden Fleece, and a mantle.
Rev.:   IN·SPEM·PRISCI·HONORIS   "Hoping for venerable office"  -  Personification of Danube, reclining against reeds, in his left hand an oar, and in his right an urn, from which the river flows.
In field to right, DANVBIVS.
Ferdinand took the title "romanorum imperator electus" only between March 1558, when he was proclaimed emperor, and September 1558, when Charles V died in Yuste. The piece was created during this time.


Stuck silver medal (1558), dies by N. Milicz, Joachimstal.     Ø 29 mm, 8,67 g.
Katz 334 (30 mm); Markl 2067; Coll. Montenuovo 606.

Obv.:   ·FERDINANDVS - ·Electus·Romanorum·IMPERATOr   "Ferdinand, elected roman emperor"
Bust to the right, imperial crown with arch and mitre placed across the head.

Rev.:   Crowned double-headed eagle with nimbs, large shield (Hungary/Bohemia), smaler shield (Austria/Old-Burgundy, Castile/Leon, Aragon/both-Sicilies, New-Burgundy/Brabant and Granada) and central arms (Tyrol/Flanders). Around the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

since 1558 :  ROMANORUM IMPERATOR

Ferdinand I and his father Philip I
An uniface medal is presented under Philip I.

Ferdinand I and his wife Anna of Hungary
Anna Jagiello of Bohemia and Hungary (1503-1547) married Archduke Ferdinand in 1521. In 1526 she inherited Bohemia and Hungary from her brother Kg. Ludwig II, who died in the Battle of Mohács against the Ottomans. So Bohemia and Hungary came to Habsburg. She died in Prague after the birth of her 15th child.


Gilden cast silver medal 1523 by Hans Daucher (?)     Ø 57 mm, 69,3 g.
Domanig 72; Habicht I,1 63.
On their 20th birthday, Ferdinand born 10.3.1503, Anna born 23.7.1503.

Obv.:   FERDinandi:ARCHiducis:AVSTRiae:ET ANNE HVnGariae:REGinar·COnIVGVm // EFFIGIES ÆTAtis:VTRIVSQVE·ANNOrum·XX // M·D - XX / III   -   Staggered busts, both with plaited wreaths in their hair, Anna with a hairnet, Ferdinand with the order of the Golden Fleece.
Rev.:   Tangled letters A and F - the initials from Anna and Ferdinand - surrounded by the fleece collane. Below collector's engraving F - E (Frédéric Engel-Gros).


Cast bronze medal 1523 by Hans Daucher.     Ø 59,5 mm, 0,89 g.
Domanig 80 (61 mm); Habich I,1 64; Coll.Lanna 681; Ferdinand-exhibition (Vienna 2003) catalog III,15.

Obv.:   EFFIGies:FERDINandi:PRINCIPis ET INFANTis:HISPANiae:ARCHiducis:AVSTRiae& ROmani:IMPerii: VICARii:   -   Effigy of Ferdinand to the left, with a wide hat and Golden Fleece medal on the chest. In the field: ANn°./SVE - ETATis:/XXI   "at the age of 21"
Rev.:   EFFIGIES SERenisimae:ANNE HVnGAriae:REGINE ARCHiducissa:AVSTRriae: DVCISSae: BVRGVndi&COMitissae:TYROli   -   Effigy of his wife Anna of Hungary to the left, with a wire hood and a broad hat. In the field AN°.-SVE/ ETAT:XX   "at the age of 20"
Ferdinand was in 1523 already Charles's V administrator in the empire, hence "romani imperii vicarii",
but not yet "romanorum rex", as on the following medal 1536.


Stuck medal 1536.     Ø 31,3 mm, 0,89 g.   Markl 2101; Mont.601.
Obv.:   FERDINANDus·ET·ANNA·ROmanorum·VNG·BO·REX·ET·REgina·
Crowned bust of Ferdinand and his wife Anna of Hungary, one behind the other to the right. Ferdinand in armor with collane and golden fleece. Anna also with the golden fleece (!). Date 1536 over the crowns.
Rev.:   INFans·HISPAniarum·ARCHIDVX·AVSTriae·DVX·BVRGVNDiae·SLESIae·MARCHio:Moraviae+
Eagle with halo, on the chest a shield with arms of Hungary, Bohemia, Austria/Burgundy and Castile/Leon.


Silver medal 1537, (dies) by Wolf Milicz, St. Joachimsthal.     Ø 47 mm, 23,13 g.
Katz 273; Markl 2104; Slg.Lanna 1537.

Obv.:   FERDINANDVS¤ROMANORVM¤HVNGARIAE¤BOHEMIAE¤REX¤MDXXXVII¤
Bust of Ferdinand to the right, with hat, coat and fleece on a string.
Rev.   ANNA¤REGINA¤HVNGARIAE¤CONIVNX¤FERDINANDI¤MDXXXVII¤
Bust of Anna to the right, with round hat and hairnet, in rich robe, with a necklace.


Stuck silver medal 1547 by Conz Welcz.     Ø 38 mm.   Domanig 699; Katz 211.
On Anna's death in 1547.     Specimen from coin cabinet, Kunsthistorische Museum, Vienna.

Obv.:   FERDINANDVS·D G - ROMAnorum·VNGARIE / BOHEMIE - ECZ·REX·
Effigy to the left, bearded, with cap, coat, fleece at the ribbon, between the date M - D / XL - VII.
Rev.:   +WIER:+:KLAGENS:+: GOTT+   "We complain to God"
A (for Anna), in between M - D - XL / VII, underneath death's head and bones.

Ferdinand I together with son Maximilian and daughter in law Anna


Silver medal 1563.    Ø 34,5 mm.   Markl 2124; Coll.Lanna 689; Coll.Mont.616.
Obv.:   ✱FER·D·G·EL·RO·IM·S·AV·GE·HV·BO·R·1563✱  -  Bareheaded bust in armor to the right.
Rev.:   ✱MAXIMILIAN·D·G·RO·HVN·BO·REX·1563✱  -  Maximilian with a serrated crown and ribbon with golden fleece, behind Anna with a high collar and pearl necklace, both to the left.

Back to part 1 :  Ferdinand on coins

Ref.:
• Roswitha Denk:   Das Münz- und Geldwesen Ferdinands I. in:
    Kaiser Ferdinand I. 1503-1564. Exhibition, Kunsthistorische Museum, Vienna, 15.4.-31.8.2003.
• Moser, H. / Tursky, H. (M./T.):   Die Münzstätte Hall in Tirol 1477-1665.   Innsbruck 1977.
• Voglhuber, R.:  Taler und Schautaler des Erzhauses Habsburg.  Frankfort 1971.
• Dietiker, H. A.:  Böhmen-Katalog der Habsburger Münzen 1526-1887.   Munich 1979
• Miller zu Aichholz / Loehr / Holzmair (MzA):  Österreichische Münzprägungen. 2 vol. Vienna 1948
• Domanig, K.:  Porträtmedaillen des Erzhauses Österreich von Kaiser Friedrich III. bis Kaiser Franz II.
    aus der Medaillensammlung des Allerhöchsten Kaiserhauses
, Vienna 1896
• Habich, G.:  Die deutschen Schaumünzen des XVI. Jahrhunderts, 5 vol., Munich 1929-34
• Markl, M.:  Die Münzen, Medaillen und Prägungen mit Namen und Titel Ferdinand. Prague 1896 & online.
• Förschner, G.:  Proklamation statt Krönung - Ferdinand I., Deutscher Kaiser 1558-1564,  in: mt 5/1990.
• Laubach, R.:  Ferdinand I. als Kaiser. Politik und Herrscherauffassung ... Münster 2001 & online.

upgraded 8.2020

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