To je paráda, ta je jako nová. 
16. 2. 2010 Rare silver medal
Categories: Finds and rescue research in the Czech Republic , Calendar
A unique discovery was made by archaeologists in Opava. Twelve years ago, they found a rare silver medal from the sixteenth century in the cellar of a house in Mezi Trhy Street. It is exceptional in its artistic quality and history.
The medal dates back to the sixteenth century, no similar medal has been found in the Czech Republic so far. This rare artefact was discovered by archaeologists in 2010, but it was not reported until a year later.
When they found the medal in the cellar, it looked like a piece of ugly sheet metal. It was corroded and covered in mud. But experts were able to clean it and restore its shine. "After a basic cleaning, it became clear that we were dealing with an object of extraordinary artistic quality and historical value," said the archaeologist František Kolář from the National Heritage Institute in Ostrava, who found the unique medal.
After a detailed analysis, the experts also discovered that the medal dates back to 1598. It is almost eight centimetres in diameter and weighs over 107 grams. Ninety percent of it is made of silver. The rest is made up of copper, lead and gold alloys.
Archaeologists discovered the medal when they uncovered a sewer connection laid decades ago. Eventually, they were even able to find out who made it. It was a representative of the Rudolphine artistic circle of the Prague court workshops, the court goldsmith of Emperor Rudolf II. Jan Vermeyen.
The Flemish goldsmith, keroplaster and chandler is known for, among other things, making the imperial crown of Rudolf II in 1602. Vermeyen signed his medals IOHAN FORMEI or H. FORMAID. The most famous medal is the one with the equestrian figure of Emperor Rudolf II or the double-sided medal with Danae and the Judgement of Parid.
Jiří Lukas from the Museum of the Capital City of Prague stated that the medal found in Opava belongs to the top relief works of the mentioned author. On one side of the medal is the likeness of Emperor Rudolf II on horseback, the other celebrates the defeat of the Turks in the fortress of Rab in the Hungarian town of Gyor.
"This is truly one of the most important archaeological finds coming from Opava," Michal Zezula, head of the Department of Archaeology at the National Heritage Institute in Opava, confirmed.
Sources: https://tn.nova.cz/, ww.idnes.cz, www.slu.cz, www.wikipedia.org
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