Item number: A1498

Year: AD 1693

Material: Silver

Size: 16.7 x 15.2 x 0.5 mm

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This is a silver coin issued in AD 1693 in Nuremberg, an imperial free city of Holy Roman Empire and one of the most significant trade hubs in Central Europe.

The obverse of the coin features two adjacent shields. The left shield displays the oldest coat of arms of Nuremberg, depicting a crowned harpy with a human head and the body of an eagle, its wings outstretched. The right shield is divided into two sections: the imperial eagle on the left and several diagonal stripes on the right. The imperial eagle symbolises the Holy Roman Empire, while the diagonal stripes may originate from the arms of the first Viscount of Nuremberg. Above the shields is the depiction of an angel’s head with two wings, and below them is the abbreviation “N,” representing Nuremberg (Nürnberg). The angel likely symbolises the protection of Christ and may also reflect the sculptural design of the coat of arms on the gate above the Nuremberg town hall.

The reverse of the coin showcases a double cross (Doppelkreuz) composed of a long-armed cross potent (Tatzenkreuz) superimposed on a shorter, tilted cross potent. The design is encircled by a rope-like inner ring. Around the outer edge, the inscription reads “STADT MVNTZ · 1693 · +”. Here, “STADT MVNTZ” translates to “City Mint,” “1693” denotes the year of minting, and the “+” is a cross potent. Both the obverse and reverse of the coin are bordered by fine, elongated tooth-like designs. The double cross motif traces its origins to the 13th century and was featured on the Groschen coins circulated in Northern Italy. When this design spread to Southern Germany, the coins were referred to as Kreuzer due to the double-cross design (“Kreuz” meaning “cross” in German).

Nuremberg was one of the most pivotal trade centres in Central Europe and a prominent residence for several Holy Roman Emperors during the medieval period. Since the 13th century, Nuremberg held the dual status of a Free City (Freie Stadt) and an Imperial City (Reichsstadt), nominally under the direct jurisdiction of the Empire while being administratively autonomous under a city council. Notably, the story that inspired Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker is said to have taken place in the Nuremberg Town Hall on Christmas Eve.

However, following the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, the economic devastation led to Nuremberg’s gradual decline. The city’s prosperity waned until it was annexed into the Kingdom of Bavaria in the 19th century.

物件編號: A1498

年代: 公元 1693 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 16.7 x 15.2 x 0.5 mm

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚公元1693年，由歐洲中部重要的貿易城市，神聖羅馬帝國的「帝國自由市紐倫堡」鑄造的銀幣。

銀幣正面為兩個相鄰的盾徽，左側為紐倫堡最古老的紋章，為一隻人首鷹身，頭戴王冠的展翅女妖。右側的盾徽分割為兩個部分，帝國鷹在左，相間的數條斜紋在右。帝國鷹為神聖羅馬帝國的象徵，右側的斜條紋可能是來自紐倫堡的第一代子爵。盾徽上方的是天使的頭與雙翅，下方則是紐倫堡(Nürnberg)的縮寫「N」。天使可能代表了基督的庇護，也可能是還原紐倫堡市政聽大門上方盾徽石的雕塑設計。

銀幣背面中央為雙十字架(Doppelkreuz)由一個長臂爪型十字(Tatzenkreuz)和一個傾斜的短臂爪型十字疊合而成，以繩狀的內圈環繞。外圈有「STADT MVNTZ．1693．+」的字樣，「STADT MVNTZ」意即「城市鑄幣」，「1693」為發行年，「+」為一個拐杖十字(cross potent)符號。銀幣的正面與反面皆有長細齒作為花邊。雙十字架的設計可以追溯到公元13世紀，北義大利地區流通的貨幣格羅申(Groschen)。傳入南德意志地區後，因為雙十字的設計而被稱為克羅斯(Kreuzer)，「Kreuz」即「十字」。

紐倫堡為中歐最重要的貿易樞紐之一，同時也是中世紀多位神聖羅馬皇帝長期駐蹕的城市，從公元13世紀起便取得了自由市(Freie Stade)和帝國市(Reichsstädte)的地位，名義上由帝國直轄，行政上則由議會自治。柴可夫斯基的芭蕾舞劇《胡桃鉗》的故事原型，就發生在聖誕夜的紐倫堡市政廳。公元17世紀的三十年戰爭後，由於經濟環境的破壞，紐倫堡日漸衰落，直到公元19世紀被併入巴伐利亞王國。