Medals

Medals were used to commemorate rulers and great events. For Marian England these medals allowed for the queen to further emphasise her role as maiden, mother and majesty.

The Milanese artist Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo (1515/1519 – 1589), who was in the service to Philip II for thirty years, designed many of the medals depicting Mary and Philip.

Jacques Jonghelinck (1530 – 1606), a Flemish medallist, began his service to the king in 1555 as a royal seal-engraver. He was inspired by da Trezzo, if not worked with him, and depicted medals depicting the busts of the couple.