Judaica / Zionism - Austria, Antisemitic Medal “Capture of Buda by the Austrians”, 1686

Judaica / Zionism - Austria, Antisemitic Medal “Capture of Buda by the Austrians”, 1686 An early and historically significant antisemitic medal, struck in 1686 to commemorate the Austrian conquest of Buda (today part of Budapest) from the Ottoman Empire. The medal carries both anti-Jewish and anti-Turkish themes, reflecting Christian Europe’s hostility toward Jews and Muslims alike, portraying both groups as profiteers of war. Obverse: Depicts a Jew and a Turk working together at a metal furnace - the Jew operating the bellows, the Turk holding tongs. Coins are visible in the furnace below. Around them the inscription: “WER DISTILLIRT NUN GELD ZUM FRIED WEIL TURCK UND IUD DES KRIEGES MUD” - “Who now distills money for peace, when the Turk and the Jew are weary of war.” The imagery suggests that Jews and Turks benefited financially from wartime trade and that their defeat ends such profits. Reverse: Inscribed: “OFEN GEHÖRT FÜR LEOPOLD. MAHUMETH IST DAS GLÜCK ABHOLD. VERLIERET OFEN SAMT DEM GOLD. DAFÜR MAN FRIEDEN KAUFFEN SOLL. AN. 1686.” - “Buda now belongs to Leopold. Fortune has abandoned Mohammed. He loses Buda along with its gold, which was meant to purchase peace.” The medal mocks both Islam and Judaism, celebrating the Christian victory while portraying Jews as opportunists who sided with the Ottomans. Two known varieties exist: one in bronze and one in a silvered / lead-gray alloy. Left: Weight: 28.831 g Diameter: 40 mm Right: Weight: 29.862 g Diameter: 40 mm