Coronation of Maria Theresa in Hungary 1741

This is Anton Franz Widemann's gilded metal medal made sometime in the 18th century. The gleaming circular form immediately draws our attention to the figure it depicts. The profile of Maria Theresa is rendered in meticulous detail. Observe how Widemann uses line and relief to define her features, from the elaborate coiffure to the delicate contours of her face. The inscription, divided into three segments, frames the portrait, reinforcing the subject's identity and status. This medal isn't just a commemorative object. It engages with the semiotics of power. The choice of gold, the precise engraving, and the classical lettering all contribute to an image of authority and legitimacy. The medal is less about likeness and more about constructing an ideal of imperial power. Its real value lies in how it communicates the spectacle of power to those who held it, exchanged it, and viewed it.