Nomos 13

Holy Roman Empire, Austria. Salzburg. Leonhard von Keutschach, 1495-1519. Klippe of 3 Ducats (Gold, 29x29mm, 10.42 g 12), Hall in Tyrol, probably by the die engraver Ulrich Ursentaler, 1513. ORA PRO ME SANCTE RVDBERTE (pray for me, Saint Rupert) Bare-headed bust of Leonhard to right, wearing ecclesiastical robes. Rev. LEONARD&DE KEWTSCH’ARE’SAL Quartered arms of Salzburg and Keutschach between 15 13. BR 4. Friedberg 578. Probszt 55. Zöttl 8. Very rare and of great importance. Nearly as struck.

Leonhard von Keutschach was the first of the Salzburg Archbishops to produce a coin bearing his portrait and utilized the services of one of the great Renaissance engravers, Ulrich Ursentaler, who was then at the start of his career. Keutschach was born in Viktring in 1442 and came from a noble Carinthian family. He was brilliant at business and arranged for the profits of the salt and gold mines belonging to Salzburg to be used for the beautification of the city. He became archbishop in 1495 and continued to work for the betterment of Salzburg, including ending a feud that had lasted nearly a century between the Archbishops and the Mayor. The use of a turnip as his arms, quartered with that of the city, is explained by two amusing tales: the first suggests that when Leonhard left, after refusing to be a farmer, his father tossed a turnip after him; the second says the turnip was thrown at him by his uncle Wolf, who was angered by Leonhard’s poor results at school. Gold coins like this were produced for use as gifts or rewards and were always struck in the correct weight for their denomination: this being a three ducat piece. They were used in circulation, but most were made into jewelry and the majority has long since been melted down. The engraver of this piece, Ulrich Ursentaler the Elder (1482-1562), was a member of a dynasty of engravers based in Hall who were responsible for all manner of coins and medals.