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2 Thalers - Ferdinand II of Tyrol
| Issuer | Upper Alsace, Landgraviate of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1584-1595 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 56 g |
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| Obverse description | Half-length armoured effigy of Archduke Ferdinand II facing three-quarters right, wearing ornate plate armour richly decorated with arabesque engraving, the right hand raised to hold a sceptre over the shoulder. A crown is worn upon the head. The obverse legend in Latin encircles the bust within the field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Elaborately crowned manifold coat of arms featuring a central escutcheon bearing the arms of Upper Alsace, the whole ensigned with the collar and badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Two smaller shields are positioned at left and right, bearing the arms of Habsburg and Ferrette respectively, dividing the surrounding Latin legend into four segments. |
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| Additional information |
Ferdinand II ruled Tyrol as an archduke from 1564 until his death in 1595, administering Upper Alsace as part of his Anterior Austrian territories. The two-thaler denomination was essentially a prestige emission — struck in limited quantities for presentation and trade rather than everyday exchange — which explains why survivors so often show relatively little wear despite their age. Ferdinand was an obsessive collector; his Kunstkammer at Ambras Castle was among the most celebrated in Europe, and coins struck under his authority were sometimes produced with that curatorial audience in mind.