1/6 Thaler Salzburg Silver

1677, Salzburg, Maximilian Gandolf. Silver Klippe 1/6 Thaler Coin.

Mint Year: 1677
Mint Place: Salzburg
Denomination: Klippe 1/6 Thaler
Reference: KM-215
Ruler (Prince-Archibishop): Maximilian Gandolf von Küneburg (1668-1687)
Diameter: 38mm
Material: Silver
Weight: 4.68gm

Obverse: Saint Rupert seated facing, holding crozier and salt barrel, fractional thaler value (1/6) below splitting legend.
Latin Legend: S : RVDBERTVS (1/6) EPS . SALISB : 1677

Reverse: Papal legate´s hat with twelve tassels above cross, double coat of arms in foliage below.
Outer Legend: MAX : GAND : D : G : AR : EPS : SAL : SE : AP : L :

The Archbishopric of Salzburg was an ecclesiastical state of the Holy Roman Empire, roughly consisting of the present-day state of Salzburg in Austria.

The diocese arose from St. Peter’s Abbey, founded about 696 by St. Rupert at the former Roman city of Iuvavum (Salzburg). The last Archbishop with princely authority was Hieronymus von Colloredo, an early patron of Salzburg native Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Since 1648, the Archbishop of Salzburg has also borne the title Primas Germaniae (“First [Bishop] of Germania”). The powers of this title – now non-jurisdictional – are limited to being the Pope’s first correspondent in the German-speaking world, but used to include the right to summon the Prince-electors. The Archbishop also has the title of legatus natus (“permanent legate”) to the Pope, which, although not a cardinal, gives the Archbishop the privilege of wearing red vesture (which is much deeper than a cardinal’s scarlet), even in Rome.

The Archbishopric grew to become one of the most important Catholic bastions in Europe. Possibly the most bigoted of all Catholic areas, it expelled the Jews around 1500 and the Protestants in 1731.