GERMANY. Nürnberg (Stadt). Medal (Silver, 45 mm, 46.00 g, 12 h), on Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, no date (circa 1560). XRS:REX•VENIT•IN•FACE•ET•DEVS•HOMO•FA•EST Draped bust of Jesus to left. Rev. S:IOAG• / S:ANNA• Saint Joachim and Saint Anne embracing in grief beneath an archway. Beckenbauer Collection 1514 (this piece). Bernhart, MBNG 54 (1936), pl. XXIV, 8 var. (differing reverse). Erbstein 554 var. (differing reverse). Habich -. An extremely rare original strike with beautiful old cabinet toning. Minor smoothing and tiny marks, otherwise, very fine.



The origin and maker of this extremely rare medal have yet to be firmly established. It has traditionally been associated with a Nuremberg workshop that produced medals for the patrician Unterholzer family, whereas the closely related example from the Erbstein Collection was attributed to a workshop in Joachimsthal.

Whatever its true origins may be, this intriguing and still somewhat mysterious piece stands as a remarkable example of German Renaissance medallic art.