I know ancient coin collectors sometimes comment that holding an ancient coin puts them in "touch" with the people who might have once used them. For me there is a small group of satircal medals that really make the wars of the Austrian Succesion real in human terms. They aren't overly expensive and sometimes like this one are near "death" but the humor on the coins is as understandable as it was when the medal was struck(1744). On the first side three characters Are seen Maria Theresa striped naked trying to hide "herself" Cardinal Fleury, the french representative, is seen trying to expose Maria Theresa to the world( this was a common cartoon way of depicting him at this time) And departing the scene with Maria Theresa's clothes is the elector of Bavaria and Holy Roman Emperor Charles Albert VII. Charles Albert had taken the crown of Bohemia from Maria Theresa in late 1741. The legend says, translated, They take the clothes from the Queen of Hungary. Charles Albert is saying in French "I won". The Austrians retook Bohemia and Maria Theresa Was crowned Queen of Bohemia in May 1743. On the second side of the medal: The crown is falling off Charles Albert. The Legend says "The Queen of/from Hungary puts some Bavarian trousers on". Maria Theresa in French is saying "you have lost" Obviously in today's terms its not PC but it is funny!
