Lot 1922

Description

Austria, Ferdinand I as King of the Romans, (1531-1558), silver taler, posthumous issue, Hall mint, undated issue, obv. + FERD ú D : G ú RO ú HVNG ú BO ú DAL ú CROA ú REX, crowned and armored half-length bust right, holding sceptre and sword pommel, rev. + INF : HIS ú ARCHIDVX ú AVSTRIE ú DVX ú BVRG, imperial eagle facing, head left, with wings spread, coat of arms on breast, (D.8030). Extremely fine, scarce.

Ex W.Rado Collection.

Son of Maximilian I, b. 1503. Ferdinand's titles appear as King of Rome (1531), Hungary (1527), Bohemia (1526), Dalmatia and Croatia, Prince of Spain, Archduke of Austria and Duke of Burgundy, but not 'Emperor', which he became in 1558, on the abdication of his brother, Charles V. By then, an effigy of Ferdinand as an older, bearded man was in use on dated coins of this type.