1689 Salzburg Johann Ernst 15 Kreuzer

[gmarguli]

Picked this up at the show today. It's a 1689 Austria Salzburg 15 Kreuzer, Ruler Johann Ernst.

 

 

This coin appears to be solid uncirculated. A light cleaning long ago is the only distraction and the cleaning is very light and wouldn't prevent this coin from getting slabbed. The obverse color is a gorgeous gold/red/green. The reverse is basically brilliant.

 

[JamminJ]

Greg, you have now joined me in one of the darkest regions of the darkside! Congratulations on beating me to that coin, helped by your suave ploy of handing me the crummier dealer stock page.

 

At least the Ferdinand-Charles 3 Kreuzer went home with someone who appreciates him!

 

Interestingly enough the guy on the front is not Johann Ernst but Saint Ruppert, the Patron Saint of Salzburg. I've always wondered what the thing in his right arm is, it looks a bit like a KFC bucket. I guess you can do the Lord's work and chow down at the same time.

 

While these coins show up regularly in nice condition, at least in my limited travels, you bagged a good one - enjoy!

 

-JamminJ

[gmarguli]

Greg, you have now joined me in one of the darkest regions of the darkside! Congratulations on beating me to that coin, helped by your suave ploy of handing me the crummier dealer stock page.

 

That's because you rated me a 1 you

 

 

 

Interestingly enough the guy on the front is not Johann Ernst but Saint Ruppert, the Patron Saint of Salzburg. I've always wondered what the thing in his right arm is, it looks a bit like a KFC bucket. I guess you can do the Lord's work and chow down at the same time.

 

I took a close look at it. I have no idea. Perhaps something to put "donations" in?

[JamminJ]

That's because you rated me a 1 you

Sorry about that, I'd change it if I could. That was before the new and improved Greg that doesn't dis world coins came along.

 

I took a close look at it. I have no idea. Perhaps something to put "donations" in?

Good an answer as I can come up with. I've ask a really Catholic guy at work I know. If anyone would know he would.

 

-JamminJ

[gmarguli]

I've always wondered what the thing in his right arm is, it looks a bit like a KFC bucket. I guess you can do the Lord's work and chow down at the same time.

 

I found the answer. It is an Orb.

 

1 : any of the concentric spheres in old astronomy surrounding the earth and carrying the celestial bodies in their revolutions

2 archaic : something circular : CIRCLE, ORBIT

3 : a spherical body; especially : a spherical celestial object

4 : EYE

5 : a sphere surmounted by a cross symbolizing kingly power and justice

[JamminJ]

I've always wondered what the thing in his right arm is, it looks a bit like a KFC bucket. I guess you can do the Lord's work and chow down at the same time.

 

I found the answer. It is an Orb.

 

1 : any of the concentric spheres in old astronomy surrounding the earth and carrying the celestial bodies in their revolutions

2 archaic : something circular : CIRCLE, ORBIT

3 : a spherical body; especially : a spherical celestial object

4 : EYE

5 : a sphere surmounted by a cross symbolizing kingly power and justice

 

I thought it might have been a orb also, but the orb represents the world over which a king or emperor rules. It's a symol of earthly power rather than one of ecclesiastic power, so I'm not sure St. Rupert is actually holding an orb. Maybe.

 

Anyway, here's the Holy Roman Empire's Orb, created for Matthius between 1612 and 1619 and can often be found in the Hapsburg eagle's left talon on their coins.

 

-JamminJ

[JamminJ]

Here's a close up of a painting of Saint Rupert of Salzburg:

 

His basket doesn't look like the orb at all. Perhaps it holds "holy relics".

 

-JamminJ

[1jester]

JJ, the basket does indeed look like it might be carrying relics; it seems heavy.

 

Greg, very nice coin! I've seen a few medieval coins with that beautiful deep goldent toning, but yours looks like the toning has been sort of played with and wiped away a bit. Nonetheless, it's a very exquisite coin!

 

 

[gmarguli]

Greg, very nice coin! I've seen a few medieval coins with that beautiful deep goldent toning, but yours looks like the toning has been sort of played with and wiped away a bit. Nonetheless, it's a very exquisite coin!

 

I think the coin was cleaned and retoned over the years. The toning pattern in person looks fine (i.e. no one played with it after it retoned).

[1jester]

Well, the reason I thought it might be rubbed after toning is that I had a similar experience with a 1960 or so Canadian dollar that had some gorgeous golden-yellow toning all over it, unbroken. And when I had it in acetone, I rubbed it and some toning ended up coming off in the fields, but the toning remained where it wasn't rubbed.

 

The golden toning I've seen on coins like yours is the same color and I've only seen it on coins of that age, too, in other words, coins hundreds of years old that have been stored somewhere in a collection and somehow acquired that beautiful toning. It's pretty scarce, and I don't know yet how it was created, but it is authentic and very beautiful. I should reiterate that I've seen coins with that kind of toning come from old collections in Europe.

 

I don't know how the Canadian dollar got its yellow toning.

 

 

[JamminJ]

Good an answer as I can come up with. I've ask a really Catholic guy at work I know. If anyone would know he would.

 

-JamminJ

 

I ran into the really Catholic guy and he thinks the basket was used for carrying alms for distribution to widows and orphans.

 

-JamminJ