1/2 Thaler

1694, Salzburg, Johann Ernst von Thun. Beautiful Silver ½ Thaler Coin. NGC UNC+

Mint Year: 1694
Denomination: 1/2 Thaler
Reference: Probszt 1817, KM-253.
Mint Place: Salzburg (as independent Archibishopric).
Condition: Certified and graded by NGC as UNC (Details: Cleaned!)
Weight: ca. 14.25gm
Diameter: 35mm
Material: Silver

Obverse: Standing figures of Saint Rupert (holding salt barrel and crozier) and Saint Vergilius (holding crozier) inside wreath, seperating legend from the scene. Model of the Archibishopric of Salzburg before Saint Vergilius. Clouds around. All within wreath-like border.
Outer Legend: + SS: RVDBERTVS. ET. VIRGILIVS. PATRONI. SALISBVRGENSES.

Reverse: Legate´s hat above cross topped oval family arms of Johann Ernst von Thun inside foliage. Date (16-94) split in fields below.
Latin Legend: + IOAN: ERNESTUS D:G: ARCHIEPS: SALISB: S: SED: AP: LEG:

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

St. Rupert was the first abbot of Salzburg, from 696 to his death in 718. He is variously considered to be Frankish or Irish, but developed a reputation for holiness while preaching in Worms. Theodo, Duke of Bavaria, sent a request to Rupert to come to Bavaria to instruct him in the faith. Rupert accepted, and baptized Theodo and his entire entourage in the town of Regensburg, where the Duke had traveled in his excitement to meet Rupert.

In the following years, under the patronage of Theodo and his son Theodobert, Rupert spread the Gospel message throughout Bavaria, and suceeded in converting or re-converting whole regions. Rupert asked Theodo for the right to build a church among the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Juvavia. This Theodo granted, and Rupert founded St. Peter's Church and Abbey and the Nonnburg convent, the oldest continuing monastery and convent in the German-speaking world. Around the Benedictine monks and nuns who accepted Rupert's call grew the town of Salzburg. To this day, September 24 is marked throughout Austria with a St. Rupert's Day country fair, Ruperti Kirtag.

Johann Ernst von Thun (July 3, 1643, Graz, Austria - April 20, 1709, Salzburg, Austria) was prince-archbishop of Salzburg, Austria, from 1687 to 1709. He was originally from the south Tyrol and he displayed a marked antipathy to the Italian designers and tastemakers that were emulated by many Austrians at the time. Upon his accession, he halted work on a church being built for an Italian order of monks and denied payment to Italian craftsmen. The archbishop is best remembered as patron of the architect Fischer von Erlach, a leader of Austrian Baroque church architecture. In 1697, the archbishop obliged all graduates of Salzburg's university to swear belief in the Immaculate Conception. Upon his death, Archbishop von Thun had his brain deposited in the university chapel, his entrails (symbolizing compassion) deposited in his Hospital Church, and his heart interred at his favorite Church of the Trinity.