Maximiliaan II Emanuel, keurvorst van Beieren, ingehuldigd als graaf van Namen 1712

This silver medal of barely 3cm in diameter, commemorates the inauguration of Maximilian II Emanuel as Count of Namur. The medal presents us with an intriguing nexus of power, identity, and representation. Commissioned to mark a significant political event, this piece provides insights into the culture and society of the region now known as Belgium. The choice of silver as a medium speaks to the wealth and status associated with the subject. The inscription in Latin, a language of power, knowledge, and authority in the 17th century. The medal was likely distributed among a select elite as a symbol of allegiance and a reminder of the Count's authority. As historians, we look at court records, administrative documents, and personal correspondence. These resources can help us understand the role of commemorative objects like this medal in shaping political discourse. Art is contingent on its social and institutional context.