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Prince Archbishopric of Salzburg
Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau
2 Ducats
(With Coin Bezel)
薩爾茲堡采邑總主教區
沃爾夫·迪特里希·馮·雷特瑙
2達克特
(附硬幣邊框)
Item number: A1160
Year: AD 1595
Material: Gold
Size: 32.9 x 27.3 x 1.3 mm
Weight: 8.75 g
Provenance: Künker 2024
This is a Ducat gold coin minted in AD 1595 under the administration of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, during his tenure as ruler of the Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg, a territory within the Holy Roman Empire. The coin has been modified with an added border, transforming it into a pendant for use as a necklace.
The obverse of the gold coin features the double-headed eagle emblem, symbolising the Holy Roman Empire. The eagle and the surrounding Latin inscription are separated by dotted and teardrop-shaped beads of varying sizes. The Latin inscription, “RVDOL. II: IMPE: AVGVS: P: F: DECRET.”, refers to the name and titles of Rudolf II, the reigning emperor of the Holy Roman Empire at the time.
The reverse of the gold coin features the coat of arms of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the reigning Archbishop of Salzburg, placed at the centre in a shield design. To the left and right of the shield are the letters “S” and “R”, respectively. Above the coat of arms is the figure of a bishop holding a crozier and a salt cellar, symbolising Salzburg’s historical association with salt production. Similar to the obverse, the coat of arms and outer inscription are separated by dotted and teardrop-shaped beads. The Latin inscription reads: “WOL. TEOD: D: G: AREPS. SAL: AP. SE: LE: 1595”, denoting the archbishop’s name, titles, and the coin’s minting year.
The Prince-Archbishopric was a unique political entity that flourished within the Holy Roman Empire, reflecting the significant influence of the Catholic Church on European politics. The Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg was located within present-day Austria, with its capital in Salzburg, and actively participated in the affairs of the Bavarian Circle (Bayerischer Reichskreis), an administrative division within the empire.
During the tenure of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau as archbishop (AD 1587–AD 1612), Salzburg underwent extensive Baroque urban development, which earned it the nickname the “Rome of the North.” It was under his leadership that the city began to transform into a cultural and architectural hub. Notably, the renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and raised in Salzburg.