Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Old Swiss Confederacy
St. Gallen
1 Thaler Silver Coin
舊瑞士邦聯
聖加侖
1塔勒銀幣
Item number: A336
Year: AD 1620
Material: Silver
Size: 39.5 x 39.5 mm
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This item is a 1 thaler silver coin minted in the city of St. Gallen in AD 1620. The obverse features an erect bear walking to the left with a collar, encircled by the Latin inscription “MO. NO. CIVITA. SANGALLENSIS. 1620,” referring to the Abbey of Saint Gallen and its year of production. On the reverse, a double-headed eagle, crowned and nimbed, is surrounded by the Latin inscription “SOLI. DEO. OPT. MAX: LAVS. ET. GLORIA,” translated as “Praise and glory to God alone, the best and greatest,” a phrase deeply rooted in Christian theology, symbolising devotion and praise to God as the ultimate and supreme being.
The bear depicted on the obverse represents St. Gallen. The origin of the bear as a symbol of St. Gallen dates back to legend. According to folklore, when St. Gallus decided to establish a monastery near the river Steinach around AD 600, he encountered a hungry bear. The bear, awed by Gallus’ presence, ceased its attack and fetched firewood, returning to share the warmth of a fire with St. Gallus. Thereafter, the bear remained his constant companion. Recognizing its significance in the founding of St. Gallen, the bear became a symbol of the town.
The double-headed eagle on the reverse symbolises the close relationship between St. Gallen and the Holy Roman Empire. The town, evolving around the abbey, was governed by the prince-abbot of the Holy Roman Empire from AD 1206 onwards.
Eagles are potent symbols of power, often associated with ruling families and their dominion. In the late Middle Ages, the double-headed eagle emerged as a distinctive mark within the Holy Roman Empire, symbolising the transition from king to emperor upon papal coronation in Rome. The addition of a halo or nimbus around the eagle’s heads signified the sacred elevation of imperial majesty.
St. Gallen is a town and serves as the capital of the St. Gallen canton, located in northeastern Switzerland. Founded in AD 612 by the Celtic missionary St. Gallus, it began as a hermitage that evolved into a Benedictine abbey under Abbot Otmar by AD 720. The town, governed by the prince-abbot of the Holy Roman Empire, allied with the Swiss Confederation in AD 1453 and AD 1454, respectively. The clerical rule ended with the Reformation in AD 1524, leading to St. Gallen becoming the capital of the newly formed canton in AD 1803 after the abbey’s disendowment. The town’s outlying parishes were incorporated in AD 1918 upon adopting a communal constitution. Since AD 1846, St. Gallen has served as a Roman Catholic episcopal see.