2 Thalers - Albrecht von Wallenstein

Wallenstein struck these large silver pieces from the mines at Gitschin (Jičín) using rights extracted from Emperor Ferdinand II as partial compensation for financing Imperial armies during the early Thirty Years' War. The duchy itself was a manufactured entity — Ferdinand created it for Wallenstein in 1624 specifically to reward a general who had essentially loaned the Habsburg war machine into solvency.

Within five years of this coin's minting, Wallenstein was dismissed by Ferdinand under pressure from the Catholic League princes who feared his ambitions. He was reinstated, then assassinated in 1634 on Ferdinand's indirect orders. The duchy died with him.