Reformation-Era Medal

CNG 96, Lot: 1429. Estimate $1500. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

AUSTRIA, Holy Roman Empire. temp. Karl V. Emperor, 1519-1558. Cast AR Medal (64mm, 78.69 g, 12h). Commemorating the Fall and Expulsion of Adam and Eve. By Nickel Milicz and his workshop in Sankt Joachimsthal (Jáchymov, Bohemia). Dated 1549. DIXIT DOMINVS ECCE ADAM QVASI VNVS EX NOBIS FACTVS EST SCIENS BONVM ET MALVM GEN III (The Lord said, behold Adam has become just like one of us, having knowledge of good and evil [Genesis 3] ), Adam and Eve, trying to hide their nakedness, standing together left of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; Adam holding the forbidden fruit; to the right God standing left, remonstrating them; behind, animals and the rest of the Garden of Eden; 1549 in exergue. / ET DOMINVS EIECIT ADAM EX PARADISO ET COLLOCAVIT ANTE PARADISVM CHERVBIM ET GE III (And the Lord cast out Adam from Paradise and stationed Cherubim before Paradise [Genesis 3]), Adam and Eve, trying to hide their nakedness, being driven left out of the Garden of Eden by a Cherub brandishing a sword; behind, tree, animals, and the rest of the Garden of Eden. Cf. Goppel 38 (for type); Katz 355. Good VF, toned, traces of solder from removed mount, fields chased. A rare and attractive religious medal from the Reformation.