Krom��� tolar Charles II. of Liechtenstein

During the 17th century, the coin Olomouc bishops in addition to government Habsburg excavation largest form of "domestic" money, used especially in Moravia in the current monetary regime. The uniqueness coinage of the Olomouc bishops in the Baroque period consisted of both an unusually large asset base (direct dominion Olomouc bishops included a substantial part of Moravia) and in the political weight of individual bishops, who have managed the implementation of minting rights to enforce.

It was an unusual political constellation has played a significant role in the formation of the legal basis of early modern coinage of the Olomouc bishops. O obtaining the right to mint their own coins vainly sought Olomouc bishops for many decades already during the 16th century. The pretext for this requirement was hovering over the existence of documents from the 12th century, which the Czech king Vladislav I. and Roman King Conrad II. awarded Olomouc Bishop Henry Zd�k right to mint coins in Bishops Castle Podiv�n. Even though modern historiography authenticity of these documents was challenged in the 16th century, nobody denied their authenticity. The very existence of some of the old medieval privileges, however, not much weight, if not repeatedly affirmed existing rulers, which until the early 17th century happened. Until January 5, 1608 issued by Emperor Rudolf II. Prague charter of older coin rights Olomouc bishops affirmed, agreeing with the relocation of the excavation of the Podiv�n castle to the bishop's residence in Kromeriz. From the side of Rudolf II. However, there was no openness towards the then Olomouc Bishop Francis Ditrichstein. On the contrary, the bishop Rudolf II. issuance thereof enforced as a condition of its retention of the emperor at the time against Rudolph was preparing a military campaign under the leadership of his brother Matthias and ever on the side of the weakened emperor remained only those whom the monarch promised some extraordinary privileges.

Getting a renewed sterling privilege was the work of a politically appropriate moment; to the actual commencement of coin production, however, resulted in a longer journey. The newly established Krome�� Mint was thus minting their own coins bishop Francis Dietrichstein initiated in late 1613 and early 1614 in time p�edb�lohorsk� coin Olomouc bishops covered a wide range of nomin�lovou from small p�lkrejcar� over silver thaler and gold ducats and their multiples, punched for representation purposes . In economic terms, however, brought to episcopal treasury biggest gain regular coin Krejcar values ??already minted by assembly of technical equipment.

The greatest significance and scale of production has reached Krom���sk� Bishops of the Mint at the time of Bishop Charles-Castelkorn of Liechtenstein (1664-1695). Despite long-term efforts of Emperor Leopold I. limit within the Habsburg monarchy activities of non-governmental mints operated by secular and ecclesiastical princes, delivered Krom���sk� Episcopal Mint circulated an enormous amount of current coins in denominations of half a penny to fifteen dimes. The general crisis of Central European silver currency also responded Krom���sk� Episcopal mint introduction of the excavation until unprecedented gold coins of lower values ??(p�lduk�t, sixth and twelfth ducat).

Mince high values ??of gold and silver (ducats and thalers and multiples thereof) were minted only in small quantities for ceremonial purposes. Punches for these denominations have high artistic and technical level. For the production of coins rolling with punches wore less than during the excavation hand and given the small number of specimens produced could be one pair of dies for silver thaler used for many years. Of the original tolar dies it as a bullet in gold produced and multiples duk�tov�ch denominations. If the punch is in good condition and his original dating and the actual duration of the excavation was too great a difference, an adjustment was engraved era. It was a fairly common practice in larger mints. Such specimens is replicated here tolar with the year 1683, the engraving made after modifying the original pair of tolar dies of 1671st Replica Kromeriz thaler from 1683 is a typical extraordinary and visually impressive ornate baroque ceremonial coin.

prof. Dr.. Petr Vorel, CSc.