Geboorte van Amalia, aartshertogin van Oostenrijk, dochter van Frans I en Maria Theresia 1746

This medal commemorating the birth of Archduchess Amalia of Austria was created by Andreas Vestner in the 18th century. It encapsulates the intersection of gender, power, and dynastic ambition within the Habsburg Empire. The medal presents Maria Theresa, the Holy Roman Empress, not just as a mother but as a symbol of the state. Childbearing was a political act, securing succession and affirming the family's power. On the reverse side, we see an allegorical scene with an angel. Here, the divine and earthly realms converge to celebrate the arrival of new life, essential for the continuity of the Habsburg line. While seemingly traditional, the medal also hints at changing roles, Maria Theresa was a powerful ruler in her own right, navigating a male-dominated world with shrewdness and determination. The emotional weight of this piece lies in understanding the pressures and expectations placed on royal women to produce heirs.