BOHEMIA. Prag (Prague), circa 1600-1650. Cast Medal (Gold, 50 mm, 18.00 g, 12 h), so-called 'Judenmedaille'. On the founding of Aachen Cathedral by Charlemagne (747/748-814). ✠ CAROLUS•MAGNUS•ROMAN:IMPER:ET•FRANCOR•REX Crowned and draped bust of Charlemagne facing slightly to right, holding sword in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. Rev. ✱ FUNDATOR•TEMPLI•S•MARIAE•VIRGIRIS•AQUISGRANI View of the Aachen Cathedral. Bernhart 2. Domanig (1907) 821. Klein B 2. Menadier 59. Rare and exceptionally well preserved, and impressive piece. The usual contemporary tooling, otherwise, extremely fine.



This medal ranks among the most prominent examples of the so-called ‘Judenmedaillen.’ It combines a finely executed, Baroque-inflected portrait of Charlemagne with a somewhat more schematic depiction of Aachen Cathedral that is nevertheless entirely consistent with the period in which the medal was produced.

While the type is quite frequently encountered in the form of crude later casts, a finely made contemporary cast such as the present example is distinctly rare.