The medium medal was still relatively young in Renaissance and rapidly developed into one of the important artistic genres next to painting, printing and sculpture. Sculpture’s ‘little sister’ offered next to portrait painting the possibility to record the likeness of the commissioner for posterity and at the same time to give insights into his surroundings and ideology on the elaborately designed back of the medal. Based on its advantages, such as its easy reproducibility and its mobility, the medal became a favourite gift, was exchanged or collected. In the 16th century, an increasing number of sculptors and goldsmiths became interested in medal art. They battled with each other in a “competition in ore”. Southern Germany, imperial cities such as Augsburg and Nuremberg, but also Saxony developed into leading regions in the creation of medals and produced many major artists as well.