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5 Ducats - Matthias II Vienna
| Issuer | Habsburg Monarchy (Holy Roman Empire) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1613-1618 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and armored bust of Emperor Matthias II facing right, wearing an elaborate ruffled collar and richly decorated plate armor, with the denomination numeral '5' appearing twice flanking the bust in the field. A beaded inner circle frames the effigy, with the circular Latin legend reading MATTHIAS D G R I S A AVG G HVN BO REX S arranged around the periphery between two sets of beaded borders. The portrait is rendered in the detailed Renaissance style characteristic of early seventeenth-century Habsburg coinage, conveying imperial authority and dignity. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Matthias II secured the Bohemian and Hungarian crowns before wresting the imperial title from his brother Rudolf II in 1612, a dynastic struggle that consumed nearly a decade of Habsburg energy. These large gold multiples were struck at Vienna primarily as presentation pieces and diplomatic gifts rather than circulating currency — at five ducats' weight in near-pure gold, they functioned as portable political statements exchanged at court.
KM#179 encompasses strikes across several years, and die workmanship varies noticeably within the type. The Vienna mint under Matthias was producing these on commission-style schedules rather than continuous runs.