Satirical Medal? I Think...... - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 1,347
austrokiwi Pillar of the Community 2087 Posts	Posted 06/15/2014 11:21 am If your like me you hate it when people tell a joke and your not sure you got the punch line. I Picked up a satirical medal( at least thats what I think it is) on ebay. I have never seen one like it before. I have others but they are dated and that often helps understand the punch line. But this one has no date and I have made a calculated guess....However there is still a real chance I have it wrong. The subject of the joke is Maria Theresa and Her son Joseph the second. What I know: When his father died Joseph II became Holy Roman emperor and his mother made him co regent of the Austrian Habsburg lands. However like his father he found his mother was not going to let him be emperor in any way other than name only.....she held the power and she wasn't giving it up to him. What I guess the medal is produced by an opponent of the Austrian Habsburgs and is joking about Joseph II. On the obverse(?) he is described as Duke of Austria....( might it be Duchess?). On the reverse(?) his mother is described as Holy Roman Empress...and she appears to be patting Joseph II on the head. Edited by austrokiwi 06/15/2014 11:36 am Report this Post to the Staff

matthewvincent Pillar of the Community United States 3486 Posts	Posted 06/15/2014 1:42 pm It might be a small help to note the crown is not on his head but sits atop a satirical figure. And the other figure is just comical. Report this Post to the Staff
retiredkper Pillar of the Community United States 541 Posts	Posted 06/15/2014 6:21 pm The medal text simply states that Maria Theresa is Holy Roman Empress and Joseph is Archduke of Austria. M. T. is posed like the Madonna and Child which I am sure is not a joke and notice that Joseph's right arm which is not in his sleeve is reaching for his sword. This could mean that he is being pictured as a loyal son ready to defend his mother. The crown on the reverse is on an Austrian shield and there is a lion holding up another shield Austrian Netherlands (?) on the left. Report this Post to the Staff
austrokiwi Pillar of the Community 2087 Posts	Posted 06/15/2014 11:50 pm Quote: The medal text simply states that Maria Theresa is Holy Roman Empress and Joseph is Archduke of Austria. M. T. is posed like the Madonna and Child which I am sure is not a joke and notice that Joseph's right arm which is not in his sleeve is reaching for his sword. This could mean that he is being pictured as a loyal son ready to defend his mother. The crown on the reverse is on an Austrian shield and there is a lion holding up another shield Austrian Netherlands (?) on the left. I might agree except that every other medal from that period of similar "construction was issued with some politically satirical message. Medals that were issued to celebrate events were of a very different quality. The key for me is the cartoon like features. I have a great deal of difficulty believing someone just portraying MAria Theresa and her son would be so disrespectful with the style of the figures on this medal. Heres the full list of satirical medals( that I have) every one of then has a strong political message and except for one tells a joke. YOu can see the similarity in style: Edited by austrokiwi 06/15/2014 11:55 pm Report this Post to the Staff
retiredkper Pillar of the Community United States 541 Posts	Posted 06/16/2014 10:11 am After seeing all of these medals I would have to agree with you. Any idea as to who made them? Quality kind of reminds me of the Admiral Vernon series. Report this Post to the Staff
austrokiwi Pillar of the Community 2087 Posts	Posted 06/16/2014 11:18 am One is dutch ( by language the others) I assume are Austrian Habsburg. The One I posted assuming it is satirising Joseph II I would guess its from one of the German States. Knowing the date( it isn't dated) would help understand who might have produced it and why. Report this Post to the Staff
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