Medal Showing John George II, Elector of Saxony, Knight of the Garter

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silver medal, struck in 1678 by an unknown German artist, celebrates John George II, Elector of Saxony (1613–1680), portrayed as a Knight of the Garter. Measuring just under 2 inches in diameter and weighing a delicate 0.9 ounces, it exemplifies the fine craftsmanship of 17th-century commemorative medals. Likely featuring equestrian imagery with men, horses, and dragons—evident from its tags—the obverse probably shows the elector in regal attire, while the reverse may evoke chivalric symbols tied to the prestigious English Order of the Garter, into which he was inducted a decade earlier. John George II ruled Saxony during a turbulent era following the Thirty Years' War, fostering alliances across Europe. His Garter knighthood, bestowed by Charles II, symbolized diplomatic ties between Protestant Saxony and Restoration England, blending German electoral power with English knightly tradition. Medals like this served as portable propaganda, worn or collected to honor rulers and their honors. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department since Bashford Dean's 1922 gift, this piece highlights the intersection of numismatics, heraldry, and portraiture. Its silver medium allowed for intricate engraving, capturing the drama of dragons and steeds in a compact form perfect for a virtual museum stroll.