Maurits, keurvorst van Saksen en aartsmaarschalk van het Duitse rijk 1549

This silver coin depicts Maurits, Elector of Saxony and Archmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire, and was likely made in 1542. The imagery on the coin offers insights into the political and social landscape of 16th-century Saxony. Note the prominence of heraldic symbols: these were not mere decoration, but powerful statements of identity, lineage, and authority in a society deeply stratified by class. The figure of Maurits as a military leader would have been a potent image in an era marked by frequent conflicts and shifting alliances. The presence of Latin inscriptions reminds us that the Saxon court operated within a broader European intellectual and political sphere. Coins like this weren't just currency; they were tools of propaganda, subtly shaping perceptions of power. To truly understand this object, we delve into historical archives, studying the intricacies of Saxon court politics and the visual language of the Renaissance.