Munt (tari, zesde piaster) uit het koninkrijk Napels van koning Karel VI (1713-1735) over de geboorte van prins Leopold van Oostenrijk
1716
Medium
striking (metalworking)
Dimensions
2.5; 4.28
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Zilveren penning. Voorzijde: borststuk man met lauwerkrans en vrouw binnen omschrift. Keerzijde: vrouw met speer in hand houdt kind op arm, staande temidden van wapentuig binnen omschrift
Art Historical Context
This silver medal, struck in 1716 by Giuseppe Basile, commemorates the birth of Prince Leopold, son of King Charles VI of Naples and his consort. During Charles’s reign over the Kingdom of Naples (1713–1735), such medals served as portable records of dynastic events, distributed among courtiers and diplomats to celebrate the continuation of Habsburg rule in southern Italy. The obverse presents the laurel-wreathed bust of the king alongside his wife, while the reverse depicts an allegorical female figure cradling the infant prince amid martial trophies. The spear and weaponry evoke protection and future strength, common motifs in early-eighteenth-century court art that linked royal offspring to the stability of the realm. Measuring just 2.5 cm across and weighing 4.28 grams, the piece exemplifies the refined technique of medal striking, in which intricate designs were impressed into precious metal to create lasting, miniature monuments to history.