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Nomos 5

25 October 2011
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zürich
overview
Estimate: 5000 CHF
Hammer Price:  Unsold
Lot 34

Holy Roman Empire, Klagenfurt. 2 Ducats (Gold, 25.7mm, 6.81 g 11), School prize from the Protestant Gymnasium in Klagenfurt, Carinthia, undated but c. 1555. EGO.SVM.VIA.VERI: .ET.VITA.I.4 (=I am the way, the truth and the life. (John 14)) Half-length, nimbate bust of Christ to right, raising His right hand in blessing and holding a globus cruciger in His left. Rev. :AGNVS:DEI.QVI TOLIT PECCATA.MVNDI: (=Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world) Lamb standing left on field, bearing long cross with pennant. Cf. Lanz 87, 19 May 1998, 505 (same dies). Very rare, apparently one of only two or three known examples. Impressive and attractive. Good very fine.


Ex Rauch Summer Auktion 2007, 11 September 2007, 2852, and Hess-Divo 395, 25 October 2006, 426 .

This fascinating coin was produced as a prize for a very accomplished student (it is also known from a unique 3 ducat piece, struck from the same dies, as well as a 4 ducat piece struck with another die pair). The Klagenfurt Gymnasium is apparently the oldest secondary school in Austria; this is one of the oldest known school medals. The obverse inscription is taken from John 14, 6. Klagenfurt in Carinthia was a center for Protestant believers, who began spreading through the area centering on Villach from 1526 on. By the time of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, Protestants had obtained freedom of religion; the gold school prizes from the Protestant Gymnasium in Klagenfurt were undoubtedly produced to celebrate that fact. This religious freedom was relatively short-lived; there was a Catholic reaction that grew stronger, especially after 1600 under the leadership of Prince-bishop Martin Brenner of Seckau (1585-1615). By the end of the Thirty Years War the Counter-Reformation had succeeded in either driving the Protestants out, or forcing them to worship in secret (though they continued living in the area until now, despite many forced migrations in the 18th century). Thus, this gold piece serves as a vivid reminder of the religious history of Carinthia.

Online bidding closes: 25 Oct 2011, 00:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 29 Mar 2024, 13:01:24 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:Unsold

Pre-Bidding closes on 25 Oktober 2011 at 0:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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