The Trinity Medal is a major work by the Leipzig artist Hans Reinhart the Elder. He is seen as the most important representative of the medallist's art in Saxony during the Renaissance.
On the obverse, you can see a motif known as the Mercy Seat. This image has been popular since pre-Reformation times as a representation combining the Holy Trinity and Christ's suffering. God the Father is shown in front view, seated on a throne with the insignia of the ruler of the world and holding the crucified Christ in front of him.
Perched on the crossbeam between the two is the dove representing the Holy Spirit. The medal is cast in silver, and because of its enormous size, the figure of Christ and the dove had to be soldered on.
The reverse shows a plaque supported by two angels and bearing a 22-line passage in Latin from the Athanasian Creed and a church hymn. Above it, you can see the coat of arms of the Dukes of Saxony. The Trinity Medal was probably commissioned by Duke Moritz of Saxony. He made a great effort to reconcile the young Protestant church with the Roman Catholic faith.
Further Media
- Material & Technique
- Silver, cast, chiselled, soldered, mounted
- Museum
- Münzkabinett
- Location & Dating
- Saxony, 1544
- Inventory number
- BGB8832