Iron Crown

Iron Crown
The Iron Crown, preserved in the Cathedral of Monza, Italy
Heraldic depictions
Details
Country	Kingdom of the Lombards[1] Kingdom of Italy (Frankish) Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia Kingdom of Italy
Made	c. 4th–5th and 9th century[1]
Owner	Cathedral of Monza
Weight	ca. 605 grams
Arches	None (Circlet)
Material	Gold
Cap	None
Notable stones	garnets, sapphires and glass
Other elements	Nail purportedly used at the Crucifixion of Jesus

The Iron Crown (in Italian, Latin, and Lombard: Corona Ferrea; German: Eiserne Krone) is a reliquary votive crown, traditionally considered one of the oldest royal insignia of Christendom. It was made in the Middle Ages, consisting of a circlet of gold and jewels fitted around a central silver band, which tradition held to be made of iron beaten out of a nail of the True Cross. In the later Middle Ages, the crown came to be seen as a heritage from the Kingdom of the Lombards and was used as regalia for the coronation of some Holy Roman Emperors as kings of Italy. It is kept in the Duomo of Monza.