The Coin Of The Realm
In the year 1696, the Tyrol was under the rule of the House of Hapsburg in the person of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. The standard currency of the day was the Taler, a large silver coin about the size of the United States silver dollar.
This coin, depicted below, featured a magnificent portrait of Leopold which included his famous "hog jaw." The portrait also serves as a valuable reference for the hairstyle and manner of dress of the day. This particular piece was struck in early 1696 as evidenced by the altered date. A die for the 1695 coin was altered to reflect the new year until new dies could be made.
1696 Taler Depicting Leopold I (coin enlarged to show detail) copyright 2000 Allen E. Rizzi
Leopold died nine years later in Vienna, the city of his birth. During his rule, he maintained fortifications in the Val d'Adige near the present day village of Dorf Tyrol. This castle is situated high above the towns of Lagundo and Merano and may only be approached through a tunnel that bears the name of Leopold on its entrance. Visitors can still see the soot on the tunnel's ceiling from years of hand held torches passing beneath in the night.
Although in general circulation at the time, coins such as this Taler were often used only by people of some financial means including merchants and politicians. The area's less affluent citizenry probably saw more of the smaller bronze denominations that were in use at the time.
This coin was minted at the Hall Mint. This oldest of Austria's surviving mints is located in the small town of Hall, just east of Innsbruck. It is also known as the "tower mint," because of its high, round tower that can be see from miles away.