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Kunsthistorisches Museum

Head & Shoulders. Coins in Fashion

From 11 November 2025

The exhibition at the Coin Cabinet presents nearly two hundred coin portraits from a cultural-historical perspective and showcases fashion and lifestyle from over 2,400 years.

Download press kit

Press texts

Press release
Head & Shoulders. Coins in Fashion

Press images

A gold medal featuring a profile portrait of a crowned figure with long curly hair, wearing ornate attire. The inscription "DOMINE SALVUM" is on the upper portion, and "FAC REGEM PSHANTINO" is at the bottom. The background is smooth and reflective, highlighting the figure's details.

Medal of Emperor Joseph II (reigned 1765–1790) with imperial crown
Medalist: Johann Martin Krafft (1738–1781)
1764
Medal, gold 
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 1964bβ

Alt text: A gold coin featuring a profile of a man with long hair wearing a decorative headpiece. The inscription around the edge includes the name "Joannes." The coin is circular with a detailed texture, showcasing its historical significance.

Bologna: Giovanni II Bentivoglio (reigned 1463–1506)
Bologna, after 1494 
Double ducat, gold 
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 19045aα

Silver coin featuring a profile of a regal woman with an elaborate hairstyle, adorned with pearls and a lace collar. The inscription around the edge includes the title "Regina." The background is subtly textured, emphasizing the detailed relief work of the figure.

Medal depicting Maria de’ Medici (1575–1642),
Queen of France (since 1600)
Medalist: Guillaume Dupré (1576–1643)
1620
Medal, silver    
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 7326bβ

Silver medallion featuring a profile portrait of a woman in Elizabethan attire, characterized by intricate lace ruff and elaborate hairstyle. The inscription around the edge includes her name and titles, reflecting a historical significance. The background is smooth and unembellished, emphasizing the portrait.

Medal depicting Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain
(1566–1633)
Medalist: Conrad Bloc (ca. 1545 – after 1602)
1599
Medal, Silver
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, inv.-nr. 2539bβ

A silver coin depicting the profile of a historical figure wearing a headdress, adorned with intricate details. The figure has facial features like a mustache and long hair, and there are decorative elements surrounding the coin's edge.

Iranian Huns: Nezak kings (from 484)
Afghanistan region, around 484–560 
Drachm, silver
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. GR 45609

A coin featuring a detailed profile of a woman with elaborate hair and attire. The inscription around the edge reads "ELISABET MARIA DUC WURTEMB," indicating her title. The surface of the coin shows a worn, metallic texture.

Württemberg-Öls: Sylvius II Friedrich (reigned 1672–1697)
Death thaler for Duchess Elisabeth Maria of Württemberg-Öls (1625–1686)
1686
Thaler, silver
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet,
inv.-nr. 4041bα

A gold coin featuring a profile portrait of a man with a beard and ornate clothing. The image is detailed with Latin inscriptions around the edge, possibly denoting the figure's name and title. The coin has a circular shape and a shiny finish.

Transylvania: Gabriel Bethlen (reigned 1613–1629)
Nagybanya, 1627
3 ducats, gold
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 1684bα

A silver coin featuring a stylized depiction of a face with a crown and a beard. The design includes intricate details around the face and inscriptions along the edge. The coin is round and displays signs of age and wear.

Holy Roman Empire: Henry III
(reigned 1039–1056)
Dortmund, around 1046–1056 
Denarius, silver
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 169aα

Gold medallion featuring profiles of a man and a woman, adorned in elaborate period clothing. The inscription around the edge includes names and titles in Cyrillic script. The background is smooth and polished, highlighting the detailed features of both figures.

Medal commemorating the marriage of Russian Crown Prince
Paul Petrovich (later Tsar Paul I, reigned 1796–1801) to Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothee Auguste Luise, Duchess of Württemberg, 1759–1828)
Medalist: Johann Caspar Jaeger (1744–1808)
1776
Medal, gold
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 10551bβ

A silver medal depicting a portrait of a young woman, adorned in intricate clothing and jewelry. She has a bun hairstyle and is looking directly at the viewer. The edges of the medal feature inscriptions in Latin.

Medal of Joanna of Spain (1535–1573),
daughter of Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, wife of John of Portugal
Medalist: Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo (1514/19–1589)
circa 1554
Medal, silver
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Coin Cabinet, 
inv.-nr. 7002bβ

Interior view of a museum exhibit featuring wooden display cases with various artifacts. The walls are painted a deep red, and there are informative plaques in purple. The room is well-lit, showcasing the exhibits under a glass ceiling.

Exhibition view
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

Alt text: An interior view of a museum exhibit featuring panels about historical fashion. Prominent in the foreground is a purple informational board discussing "Head and Shoulders" with headings in German. Display cases with artifacts are seen along the walls, illuminated by soft lighting.

Exhibition view
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

A museum exhibit featuring a circular display with decorative artifacts, including a sculpture of two angels holding a laurel wreath. Surrounding the display are informational panels and artifacts showcased in glass cases, set against a rich red wall. The entrance is marked "SAAL III.

Exhibition view
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

Interior of a museum showcasing an exhibit. On the left, a sign reading "SAAL III" guides visitors. Nearby, display cases feature informational panels and artifacts, including ancient coins. A digital screen on the right lists exhibit details titled "Kopf & Krugen." The wall is painted a deep red.

Exhibition view
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

Exhibit display titled "Prestige," featuring information about the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire and Emperor Rudolf II. The display includes historical text and visible artifacts such as coins and medals arranged in a showcase below the text.

Exhibition view
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

Display case featuring Renaissance-themed exhibits. The left section shows a graphic of a man wearing a red hat and text discussing the significance of hats in fashion. The right section includes a bronze medallion depicting a horseman and text highlighting the role of hats during the Renaissance. Coins are displayed below.

Exhibition view
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

Two fashion magazines titled "COINS" are placed on a round marble table. The covers feature a model holding a gold coin, with the title prominently displayed. The wooden background and the textures of the table and chairs add to the stylish ambiance.

Exhibition view – Accompanying publication
© KHM-Museumsverband, Photo Tom Ritter

Press contact

Mag. Dr. Wolfgang Lamprecht (ext. Leitung)
+43 1 525 24 4021

Mag. Sarah Aistleitner
+43 1 525 24 4025

Tanja Stigler

+43 1 525 24 4019

presse@khm.at

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