Gold Medal of Charles V

Hans Reinhart the Elder (around 1510-1581) is one of the most important German medallists of the 16th century. He made two medals for Charles V, in 1537 and in 1544, with only very small differences in the detail. In this one from 1537, Charles is depicted at 37 years old, with the image most likely taken from another portrait rather than from a real-life meeting with him. The obverse depicts the bust of the emperor in all his pomp, with the Golden Fleece, the orb and the imperial sceptre. The reverse shows the coat of arms of the Spanish possessions, sheltered by a crowned two-headed eagle and surrounded by the collar of the Golden Fleece and the columns of Hercules, with the slogan plvs ovltre, ‘beyond’, Charles’ personal emblem. As well as being one of the finest medals to come out of the German Renaissance, it is one of the exceedingly rare pieces to have been made from gold at that time.