5 Ducats - Placidus von Zurlauben silver trial

Placidus von Zurlauben served as Abbot of Muri from 1714 until his death in 1723, and this silver trial piece — struck to assess the dies intended for a gold ducat issue — survives in vanishingly small numbers. The Abbey of Muri, a Benedictine house in the Aargau, held the right to strike coin under the Holy Roman Empire, though its issues were always limited in scope and audience. Trial strikes in silver for gold denominations were a practical workshop step, allowing die quality and relief to be evaluated before committing to the more expensive metal.