Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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AUSTRIA, Holy Roman Empire. Archduchy of Austria. Sigismund. Archduke, 1446-1490. AR Guldiner – Taler (40mm, 31.79 g, 10h). Hall mint. Dated 1486. • SIGISMVnDVS : (rosette) :· ΛRChIDVX • ΛVSTRIЄ •, Sigismund standing facing, holding globe-tipped scepter in right hand over shoulder and hilt of sword in left hand; to left, coat-of-arms held by lion; to right, crested and crowned helmet / Knight in German Gothic armor, holding banner, on caparisoned horse galloping right; 1486 below; helmet decorated with elaborate crowned crest; Habsburg coat-of-arms in exergue; coats-of-arms of Austrian provinces around. Moser & Dworschak 89; Moser & Tursky 64; Levinson IV-49a; Frey 274; Davenport 8087. A few light edge marks. Otherwise well struck and attractively toned. Near EF. Very rare thus.
From the J. de Wilde Collection. Ex Künker 163 (28 January 2010), lot 328.
The increasing pace of international trade in the late 15th century created a need for a large silver coin, and fresh discoveries of silver ore in the Alpine foothills provided the raw material for their production. As a result, Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol set up a mint in Hall (east of Innsbruck) close to the silver mines of nearby Schwaz. The Hall mint, operating from within the protective walls of Burg Hasegg, quickly became a major innovator in mint technology. Sigismund's half guldiners of 1484 and full guldiners of 1486 are regarded as the bridge between medieval and modern coinage. Though the types are reminiscent of medieval knighthood, these coins represent a significant advancement as the first crown-sized silver coins to circulate in Europe.
From the J. de Wilde Collection. Ex Künker 163 (28 January 2010), lot 328.
The increasing pace of international trade in the late 15th century created a need for a large silver coin, and fresh discoveries of silver ore in the Alpine foothills provided the raw material for their production. As a result, Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol set up a mint in Hall (east of Innsbruck) close to the silver mines of nearby Schwaz. The Hall mint, operating from within the protective walls of Burg Hasegg, quickly became a major innovator in mint technology. Sigismund's half guldiners of 1484 and full guldiners of 1486 are regarded as the bridge between medieval and modern coinage. Though the types are reminiscent of medieval knighthood, these coins represent a significant advancement as the first crown-sized silver coins to circulate in Europe.