Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 8 15 Feb 2023
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Austria, Holy Roman Empire, Maximilian I (1459-1479) as Duke of Austria and Burgundy and Maria, Duchess of Burgundy (1457-1482), silver Thaler, dated 1477, Marriage of Guldiner, Hall mint, Tyrol, design by Ulrich Ursentaler, young bust of Maximilian I right dividing inscription ETA TIS 19, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, MAXIMILIAN 9. MAGNANIM 9. ARCHIDVX. AVSTRIE. BVRGVND, rev. young bust of Maria of Burgundy right dividing inscription ETAT IS. 20, date below, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, MARIA. KAROLI. FILIA. HERES. BVRGVND. BRAB. CONIVGES, edge plain, 30.64g (Egg 15; M.T. 83; Schulten 4474; Voglh. 3). A stunning example of this exceedingly rare and significant coin. Struck on a slightly domed flan with some light nicks in fields, a small scratch on neck of reverse portrait, traces of residual mint lustre around the details, overall about extremely fine, and one of the best examples of this type.
The Latin legends translate on the obverse as "Maximilian the Great, Archduke of Austria and Burgundy," and on the reverse as "Mary, Hereditary Daughter of Charles, Burgundy and Brabant through Marriage." The inscription on both sides translates as "Aged 19/20" respectively.
Maximilian was born at Wiener Neustadt on the 22nd of March, 1459. His father, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, named him after an obscure saint, Maximilian of Tebessa, who Frederick believed had once warned him of imminent peril in a dream. His wife, Mary of Burgundy, was born in Brussels at the ducal castle of Coudenberg, to Charles the Bold, then known as the Count of Charolais, and his wife Isabella of Bourbon. Her birth, according to the court chronicler Georges Chastellain, was attended by a clap of thunder ringing from the otherwise clear twilight sky. Her godfather was Louis, Dauphin of France, in exile in Burgundy at that time; he named her for his mother, Marie of Anjou. As she grew older, Mary was considered the most beautiful bachelorette among the European nobility, and had suitors lining themselves up to propose. She soon made her choice by selecting the young Maximilian. Their marriage took place at Ghent on the 19th of August, 1477. At the time, she was 20 years old, while he was two years younger. Their marriage was short-lived, however, after Mary suffered a fatal injury whilst horse riding in 1482. It is unquestionable that Maximilian was deeply in love with Maria, with the mere mention of her name bringing him to tears even in his dying days, nearly 40 years later. Following the death of his third wife, Bianca Maria Sforza (the once Duchess of Savoy) in 1511, Maximilian ordered his chief engraver, Ulrich Ursentaler, to design and mint a silver Thaler commemorating his marriage to Maria. The resulting coin was this magnificent piece of craftsmanship, and a rare expression of love from one of Europe's most influential rulers.
The Latin legends translate on the obverse as "Maximilian the Great, Archduke of Austria and Burgundy," and on the reverse as "Mary, Hereditary Daughter of Charles, Burgundy and Brabant through Marriage." The inscription on both sides translates as "Aged 19/20" respectively.
Maximilian was born at Wiener Neustadt on the 22nd of March, 1459. His father, Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, named him after an obscure saint, Maximilian of Tebessa, who Frederick believed had once warned him of imminent peril in a dream. His wife, Mary of Burgundy, was born in Brussels at the ducal castle of Coudenberg, to Charles the Bold, then known as the Count of Charolais, and his wife Isabella of Bourbon. Her birth, according to the court chronicler Georges Chastellain, was attended by a clap of thunder ringing from the otherwise clear twilight sky. Her godfather was Louis, Dauphin of France, in exile in Burgundy at that time; he named her for his mother, Marie of Anjou. As she grew older, Mary was considered the most beautiful bachelorette among the European nobility, and had suitors lining themselves up to propose. She soon made her choice by selecting the young Maximilian. Their marriage took place at Ghent on the 19th of August, 1477. At the time, she was 20 years old, while he was two years younger. Their marriage was short-lived, however, after Mary suffered a fatal injury whilst horse riding in 1482. It is unquestionable that Maximilian was deeply in love with Maria, with the mere mention of her name bringing him to tears even in his dying days, nearly 40 years later. Following the death of his third wife, Bianca Maria Sforza (the once Duchess of Savoy) in 1511, Maximilian ordered his chief engraver, Ulrich Ursentaler, to design and mint a silver Thaler commemorating his marriage to Maria. The resulting coin was this magnificent piece of craftsmanship, and a rare expression of love from one of Europe's most influential rulers.