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The Emperor’s Gold

24 MAY 2016 TO 5 MARCH 2017 THE EMPEROR’S The great fame that the imperial coin collec- ALL THAT GLITTERS The so-called »magnificent« medals (Prunk­ GOLD tion already enjoyed throughout Europe IS NOT COIN medaillen) represent a highlight of the exhib­ around 1800 derived from its size and quality ition. These were produced in only a few ex- as well as from the rarity of the objects it emplars and presented as precious gifts to im- ­contained. It was the collecting passion of the portant personages. Due to their enormous Emperors Charles VI (r. 1711−1740) and ­Francis sizes, they offer images with a richness of de- I (r. 1745−1765), which already fascinated con- tail that is otherwise unknown. Today their temporaries, and to which the Vienna Coin exclusive value lies not only in their precious Collection owes its world-class status today. metal content and artistic quality, but also in On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the their singular provenance. Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Vienna Coin Collection presents a special exhibition of the THE BIRTHPLACE OF In addition to its purely representative func- most precious gold pieces from its once-im- NUMISMATICS tion, the Vienna Coin Collection was also the perial treasures. birthplace of numismatics as a modern schol- arly discipline during the Eighteenth Centu- FROM ANTIQUITY TO The gamut ranges from gold coins in every- ry. The custodians of the imperial coin collec- THE MODERN day circulation through multiples, true gold tion penned the first printed coin catalogues. PERIOD giants, and singular commemorative issues. They were concerned with the organization Many of the imprints on display were honor- of antique and modern coins, and developed ific gifts to the emperor or were targeted ac- systems that still remain relevant today. quisitions for the imperial collection. Antique treasure troves also played an important role in the expansion and enrichment of the impe- rial coin collection. The spectacular find at Szilágysomlyó in Transylvania, for instance, contained the heaviest gold medallions from antiquity ever discovered. I. MEDIEVAL GOLD When Charlemagne was crowned emperor in ducat from Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella­ Rome in 800, gold coins had nearly vanished of Castile (r. 1479–1516), and one of twenty-five from the European mints, and silver pennies ducats issued by Maximilian I (r. 1486–1519) dominated the currency in circulation. The on his assumption of the title of emperor; the golden solidi of Emperor Louis the Pious last two pieces come from the collection of (r. 814–840), who thereby sought to empha- Emperor Francis I. size his special position and status equivalent with the emperor of Byzantium, were an ex- Maximilian I (r. 1486–1519) Antwerp: 25 ducats (86.71 g), ception: He had claimed the hereditary priv- 1509 ilege of issuing gold coinage. The Islamic sov- Archbishop Pilgrim II (r. 1365–1396) ereigns also continued to mint gold coins. Salzburg: 4 florins (14.29 g) The minting of gold coins in the Latin West II. THE DUCAT The ducat, the official gold coin of the Holy only recommenced in 1231 with the augusta­ AND ITS Roman Empire with a weight of 3.49 grams lis of Hohenstaufen Emperor Friedrich II MULTIPLES and a precious metal content of 23½ carats, (r. 1212–1250). These were followed in 1252 by was also struck in multiple pieces, so-called the gold florins of the city of Florence, and multipla. While most individuals never came in 1284 by the ducats of the doge of Venice, in contact with these coins in everyday life, both of which made history as global curren- ten-ducat pieces played an important role in cies. They were surpassed in weight by the long-distance trade and for the payment of French masse d’or, which was first issued by large sums. The minting of multiple pieces was Philip IV the Fair (r. 1285–1314) in double also a feature of modern princely honour, ­ducat weight. The quadruple gold florin of ­although such prestige issues generally cost Salzburg Archbishop Pilgrim II (r. 1365–1396) their sovereigns more than they yielded. Few Principality of Transylvania represents a particular rarity – it is the rulers thus had coins in excess of 10-ducats Michael Apafi (r. 1661–1690) ­heaviest gold coin from the medieval period. 100 ducats (346.72 g), 1677 produced. Only around the end of the fifteenth century Representational coins with weights of ­thirty, were still-heavier gold coins produced for fifty, or even one hundred ducats were hence ­representational purposes. Among these are rare and precious. Like the unusually shaped a seven-ducat piece from Galeazzo Maria Transylvanian coins, they served as gifts to Sforza (r. 1466–1476), Duke of Milan, a twenty-­ strengthen diplomatic ties at the highest ­levels. Major gold deposits were mined in Bohemia medaillen). These had precedents in the pre- and Transylvania. The respective sovereigns cious, wearable medals given as gifts, which used this advantage to mint impressive ­coins. were also self-confidently displayed by their Michael I Apafi was considered richest in­ gold owners. of all the Transylvanian princes. On his hun- Though the »magnificent« medals were sim- dred-ducat gold piece, however, he showed ilar to other medals in their imagery, they dif-

House of Austria, Leopold I. himself sceptical of his wealth. The banner fered significantly through their uncommon (r. 1658–1705): Cluj-Napoca: around his portrait reads: »The glitter­ of all Landgraviate of Hessen- size, substantial weight, and lavish use of pre- 10 ducats (34.19 g), star- Darmstadt this world’s golden treasures brings me no joy, cious metals. They were usually produced in shaped klippe, 1694 Louis VIII (r. 1739–1768) I fear that all this impairs my ­salvation.« This Medal on the Meeting of only a few exemplars, sometimes only as sin- Apafi piece was a gift to Emperor­ Leopold I. Emperor Francis I with gle pieces, and dedicated to the sovereign or Landgrave Louis VIII Anton Schaeffer (1722–1799) other important personalities. The collections 1764 that preserve large numbers of these pieces 100 ducats (348.97 g) are consequently limited to those of mon- archs. The Vienna Coin Collection preserves a unique collection, assembled over more House of Austria, Leopold I. than five centuries. (r. 1658–1705): Cluj-Napoca: 10 ducats (34.77 g), crescent- shaped klippe, 1694

IV. »MAGNIFI- The »Kaiser picture,« today in the main stair III. EUROPEAN Early medals primarily served the cult of per- CENT« MEDALS hall of Vienna’s Natural History Museum, »MAGNIFICENT«­ sonality. They passed through the hands of FROM THE shows Emperor Francis I in the first show- MEDALS contemporaries during the lifetime of the per- EMPEROR’S room of his natural history cabinet in the Au- sons depicted, while after their death they COLLECTION­ gustinian Corridor of the Vienna Hofburg. preserved his or her memory. Because ev- The First Imperial Physician Gerhard van er-broader circles gradually employed the me- ­Swieten is depicted to his right. Jean de Bail- dium, the importance of prominent recipients lou, the director of the private natural histo- could only be demonstrated through the pro- ry cabinet, can be seen in the background. duction of »magnificent« medals (Prunk­ One recognizes Abbé Johann Marcy, who ­became director­ of the »physical cabinet« fol- V. MEDAL The important series of »magnificent« med- lowing the emperor’s death, in the right half OF EMPEROR als dedicated to individual monarchs is a no- of the picture. Valentin Jameray Duval, who FRANZ JOSEPH I table feature of the Vienna collection. The in 1748 was summoned by the Emperor from long reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I in par- Florence to Vienna and trusted with the ex- ticular offered repeated occasions for such ob- pansion of his coin collection, stands behind jects, several of which were commissioned by the pietra dura table. He holds a drawer with the city of Vienna. These include the medal

Kingdom of Poland, golden medals, our piece probably among created in 1898 on the fiftieth anniversary of Sigismund III Vasa them. Collecting­ activities reached their apex his accession to the throne, which was given (r. 1587–1632) Capture of Smolensk by under Duval. to the emperor during a pageant. The 65.000 Sigismund III children who participated were adorned with Unknown artist (Goldsmith medals. The official tribute medal of the city or plaquette artist, active Tribute medal from the city of Vienna, created ten years later for the six- in Southern Germany or of Vienna on the golden Bohemia?) jubilee of accession ty-year anniversary, is the youngest »magnifi­ 1611, Cast, 315 ducats Medallist Anton Scharff cent« ­medal in the Vienna collection. This (1104.46 g) (1845–1903), cast and engraving Karl Waschmann was presented­ to the emperor by a delegation 1898 from the ­Vienna city council led by Mayor Cast, assembled from two Francis I surrounded by the Karl­ Lueger. directors of his collections halves, 115½ ducats (404 g) Franz Messmer/Moesmer (portraits) and Jakob Kohl, possibly begun by Martin van Meytens the Younger Completed in 1773 © Natural History Museum, VI. GOLD COINS Gold was the most valuable of all metals; it Vienna FROM ANTIQUITY was worth around fifteen times as much as silver and over two hundred times as much as bronze. The legendary King Croesus (r. 561–­ 546 BCE), in Lydia/Western Asia Minor, was the first to have coins minted from pure gold. Not until Alexander the Great (r. 336–323 BCE), however, did the first double pieces of the standard (gold) coin, the so-called statēr, VII. GOLD GIANTS: This coin was found in 1763 »in the eddies of appear. Alexander’s successors in Egypt, the THE MULTIPLE OF the Danube« in modern-day Hungary and Ptolemies, minted even larger gold pieces EMPEROR VALENS ­given as a gift to the imperial house. It is set weighing eight drachmas. As this correspond- in a massive gold ring; additional parts of a ed to a value of 100 silver drachmas, equalling jewellery mounting and the eyelet have been a mina, this gold coin was called mnaieion. lost. From the middle of the first century BCE, the The coin is a 36-solidus of Emperor Valens Mnaieion of Ptolemy II Romans also minted gold coins, namely the (r. 364–378 CE), which was minted in Rome. Philadelphus for Arsinoe II. (27.95 g) aureus (»the golden«). Only from Caracalla This is the heaviest gold coin from the Roman minted between 253–246 BCE (r. 211–217) onwards were double aurei issued period. Only two other exemplars of this val- in Egypt regularly. Hand in hand with the inflation of ue have ever been discovered; one can be seen silver and copper currency, the aurei also in showcase IX. 36-solidus of Valens ­became lighter, but still larger coin values such (r. 364–378) (178.9 g) The reverse shows the two brothers Valenti­ as quadruple or octuple multiples also Found 1763 in Hungary in nian I (r. 364–375) and Valens, peacefully on appeared.­ the Danube the same throne of the essentially already minted between 364–367 in Gold assumed an even greater role in the cir- Rome ­divided Roman Empire. Leaves and baskets culation of money during Late Antiquity, par- Reverse: the two Emperors of money can be seen below. These were the Valentinian I und Valens ticularly in connection with taxation. From enthroned insignia of the comes sacrarum largitionum, 309 CE, the solidus replaced the aureus. It the senior fiscal official; they only appear on ­remained true to its name (»solid«), never vary­ such pieces, which were struck for special oc- ing in weight and surviving in the Byzantine casions. Empire until the Middle Ages. Multiple ­solidi Though large gold coins were produced simul- (so-called multiples) now appeared much taneously by multiple mints as regular series, more regularly; the most common values were they were sometimes also presented as gifts one-and-a-half, double, and four-and-a-half to important dignitaries, for instance on Jan- denominations.­ uary 1st on the accession of a new consul. Many of the heavy gold coins ended up in the Barbaricum, were there were often augmented­ with lavish settings. VIII. THE In 1755, Erasmus Froelich, the keeper of an- IX. THE On a sunny August day in 1797, two young shep- NUMISMATA tique coins, published the monumental work SZILÁGYSOMLYÓ herds in Szilágysomlyó, Transylvania (today CIMELII OF Numismata Cimelii. It represents a register TREASURE Şimleu Silvaniei, Romania) were grazing their ERASMUS of the Roman coins and medallions in the im- goats, when one of them discovered something FROELICH perial collection, the value of which lies not glittering beneath a tree. Several large gold merely in the listing, but also in the scholar- ­med­al­lions and jewellery were uncovered, al­ ly description and organization of the mater­ together one-and-a-half kilograms of gold. The ial. It contains 25 densely arranged plates of two duly reported the discovery to the respon- coins and 112 selected additional illustrations, sible authorities, the Salt Office, from which a each with one or two rarities. The necessary list was sent to the capital in Vienna. In the copper engravings were extremely laborious meantime, the property owner had taken one to produce, however, and made the publica- large and two smaller medallions for himself,

tion very expensive. Gold medallion after which remain lost today. Of inestimable value by modern standards is the prototype of Valens All of the remaining pieces were purchased by (r. 364–378) (412.47 g) the tracing of individual coins, which in ear- the imperial collection, where the responsible from the Szilágysomlyó lier works had generally been drawn with a treasure keeper, Joseph Hilarius Eckhel, already pub- compass and completed – correctly or incor- Obverse: Breast-length lished them in 1798 in the final volumes of his portrait of Valens, slightly Numismata Cimelii, Vienna rectly depending on current knowledge. This barbarized depiction monumental work Doctrina nummorum 1755 makes it possible to identify the illustrated ­veterum. First printed register, predominantly of the coins in the collection. The hoard was a royal trove from the Migra- Roman coins in the imperial The work reflected contemporary efforts to tion Period, possibly from the Gepids. It con- collection promote scholarship. The few extant collec- tained Roman gold coins dating from 290 to tion catalogues were the essential foundation 383 CE, from the simple aureus to the 9-soli­ of any research and found international dus, as well as one 36-solidus piece. The coins appeal.­ all have eyelets or wide ornamental settings. Two of the pieces are medallions made express- ly for adornment, which only loosely follow ­Roman prototypes. X. THE An important hoard was unearthed in 1805 XI. THE CZÓFALVA In 1887, workers building a street near Czó­ PETRIJANEC during the excavation of a wine cellar in Petri- TREASURE falva in Transylvania (today Crasna, Romania) TREASURE janec (Croatia). It consisted of around 230 Ro- found a number of gold bars »the size of seal- man gold coins, a few of which in ornamen- ing wax sticks.« In order to distribute them tal settings with eyelets, others reworked as evenly, several were cut up, but all of the ap- so-called phalerae (decorative disks), as well parently 15 bars eventually ended up on the as a quintuple aureus and two bracelets, each market. The two examples on display entered of which was set with four gold coins. The the museum in 1906 with the collection of the coins dated from Hadrian (r. 117–138) to Dio- Nussdorf brewery owner Baron Karl Bachofen cletian (r. 284–305), one of them from the reign von Echt (1830–1922). of Julian (r. 355/361–363). The bars bear various stamps, which either Despite the war with Napoleon, which was show the busts of three emperors or which Quintuple aureus of Carus proceeding unfavourably for the monarchy, guarantee of their gold content through the and Carinus (27.48 g) from the Petrijanec treasure the reporting and assessment of the treasure officials of the Roman fiscal administration – minted 283 in Siscia (Serbia) took place without incident. As was usual, a the pieces do not have a standardized weight third belonged to the emperor, a third to the and weigh between 339 and 524 grams. They feudal landowner, and a third to the finder. likely date from the period after the invasion The imperial third meant the state treasury, of the Balkans by the Germanic tribes in 378 however. If the Coin Cabinet wished to keep CE, the beginning of the Migration Period. some of the pieces, they had to be purchased They were probably made to be brought to a from the exchequer. In this case around two- mint and struck as currency. The find-spot in thirds of the treasure entered the imperial col- Transylvania, far outside of the Roman Em- lection, though integrated without indication pire, suggests that plunderers attacked the as to the provenance. The fate of the remain- transport and conveyed their prize along the Gold bar from the Czófalva ing portion is largely unknown. Danube, where the bars were again hidden treasure (499.86 g) Produced around 379 CE, and not retrieved. probably in Sirmium (Serbia) XII. THE COIN In 1712, Charles VI (r. 1711–1740) charged Carl XIII. NUMOPHY­ Francis I (Francis Stephen of Lorraine, 1708– CABINET UNDER Gustav Heraeus (1671–1725) from Sweden with LACIUM 1765), consort of Maria Theresa (1717–1780), EMPEROR uniting the holdings of coins and medals scat- IMPERATORIS added a new facet to the politics of coin col- CHARLES VI tered amongst various Habsburg possessions FRANCISCI I. lecting in the Vienna imperial house. He was into a spatially unified coin cabinet (Nu­ primarily interested in what were then mod- mophylacium Carolinum). The installation ern coins from throughout Europe. The coin took place between 1714 and 1719 in the Bil- collection of Francis I, steadily augmented lard of the imperial apartments in the Vienna through the purchase of rare objects of the Hofburg, a space that also served as the print highest quality, was the most precious and room. complete of its day. During Charles’ reign, contemporary medals The year 1748 numbers among the greatest were also targeted for acquisition by the im- moments in the history of the Vienna Coin perial collection – a first, as until then main- Collection. After his coronation as Emperor Kingdom of England ly antique, and mostly Roman coins had been Elizabeth I. (r. 1588–1603) of the Holy Roman Empire, Francis I had his collected. The focus of the collection gener- Fine Sovereign (15.26 g), art and natural history collections brought undated Ceiling painting by Julius ally lay in smaller silver pieces and exemplars from Florence to Vienna. The coin collection, Victor Berger in Room XIX made of non-ferrous metals, as Heraeus saw then already extensive, was housed in a room of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (detail), 1891 that in other collections large precious metal in the so-called Auditor’s-Corridor (Kontrol­ Emperor Charles VI standing pieces always »run the risk of being melted lorgang), on the mezzanine level of the Leo­ with a feathered cap and down again.« poldine tract of the Hofburg. The medals and golden Spanish court dress, flanked by a page with the Charles VI also sponsored the Austrian nu- coins were stored separated by gold and sil- coin album still extant today, mismatic and medalmaking arts, among oth- ver in 13 precious wooden cases. the Codex aureus, on the stone bench Carl Gustav er artistic genres. These profited substantial- Francis I would not live to see the planned Heraeus, the Emperor’s ly from technological improvements and the move to the new Augustinian Corridor of the Inspector of Antiquities and foundation of an engraving academy. These Hofburg. There, in 1766, the Cabinet ­Impérial Medals, in a green coat. Imperial City of Hamburg measures laid the groundwork for the flower- was formed through the combination of the 10 ducats (34.58 g), 1665 ing of the Austrian Baroque medal. Numophylacium Carolino-Austriacum and the Numophylacium Imperatoris Francisci I. In 1891, this was transferred to the newly opened court museum on the Burgring ­section of the Ringstrasse, today’s Kunsthistorisches XV. RUSSIAN In 1765, the Coin Cabinet held around 65 large Museum. GOLD MEDALS Russian gold medals. This collection was con- BELONGING siderably expanded in 1765, when the Coin TO WENZEL Cabinet was sold a group of Russian gold med- ANTON KAUNITZ- als by the heirs of the former Chancellor, Wen- XIV. VALENTIN No one knew the modern coin collection of RIETBERG zel Anton Graf (1711–1794), from 1764 Prince JAMERAY DUVAL’S Emperor Francis I better than the numisma- Kaunitz-Rietberg. The Chancellor had re- MONNOIES EN OR tist Valentin Jameray Duval (1695–1775). Of ceived them as a gift from the Tsarina Cathe- humble beginnings, Duval was initially en- rine the Great. The group had a total weight gaged as the Bibliothecarius at the court of of 4,117 ducats, more than 14 kilograms of gold. the Dukes of Lorraine, went to Florence in A large portion of these medals refer to 1737 with the transfer of the Lorrainian col- ­dynastic aspects of Russian history. lections, and was finally in 1748 charged by Francis I with the move and reinstallation of his coin cabinet in Vienna. Here he began the Catherine II (Catherine the presentation and cataloguing of the extensive Great, r. 1762–1796) coin collection. Medal on the installation of the equestrian statue of Monnoies en or qui Duval documented the silver and gold ­pieces Peter I composent une des respectively in two large-format volumes, Carl von Leberecht différentes parties du cabinet (1749–1827) de S. M. l’Empereur … par Monnoies en argent (1756) and Monnoies en 1782 Valentin Jameray Duval, or (1759). The collection catalogues were pub- 79 ducats (276.06 g) Vienne, chez Jean Trattner, lished in very small editions and personally imprimeur et libraire de la Cour, 1759. Author’s copy given by the emperor as esteemed honorific from Valentin Jameray gifts. Duval, Keeper of the collection of Emperor Following the death of Francis I, Maria Francis I ­Theresa named Valentin Jameray Duval the director of the now combined Francine and Habsburg Cabinet of Coins and Medals in 1765. XVI. GOLD Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria-Hungary FIRST CODEX This Codex aureus was the first of four vol- MEDALS (1858–1889) was the only son of Emperor Franz AUREUS OF umes that can be considered the highlights of BELONGING TO Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth. By his schol- EMPEROR the Caroline coin collection. This coin album CROWN PRINCE arly ambitions an ornithologist, he was little CHARLES VI is probably the only preserved coin holder ARCHDUKE engaged with numismatics. Precisely this cir- (R. 1711–1740) dating from the time of Charles VI. RUDOLPH cumstance is interesting, however, as it shows 1714 that persons of high rank might nonetheless According to the text on the flyleaf, Charles collect significant commemorative pieces and issued the order for the creation of his coin mementoes. Some of the objects came from collection, the Numophylacium Carolinum, the collection of Ferdinand I (emperor 1835– in 1712. 1848, † 1875). The chronological range falls largely within the crown prince’s lifetime, with an emphasis on medals connected with the Habsburg-Lorraine family. The medals and coins from the estate of the Wilhelm I (King of Prussia 1861–1888, German Emperor crown prince entered the imperial collection from 1871) in 1889. The entire group was purchased, as “Medal of Peace” or following the dubious circumstances of his “General’s Medal” on the victorious war against France death in Mayerling »no one could claim own- Enthroned Germania is ership of a medal from the collection of Crown crowned with laurels by Victoria and the Goddess Prince Rudolf.« of Peace The group – 464 objects in total – contains (Friedrich) Wilhelm Kullrich 92 gold pieces with a weight of 1,950 ducats (1821–1887) 1871 (6.8 kg). 120 ducats (418.42 g) LECTURE* »Numophylacium Imperatoris« – Die EDITOR Dr Sabine Haag, Director General Wiener Münzkabinette im 18. Jahrhundert­ Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna THUR 2.6., 6 PM held by Elisabeth Hassmann Burgring 5, 1010 Vienna in German © 2015 KHM-Museumsverband

CURATORS AND Michael Alram CURATOR’S TOURS** AUTHORS Anna Fabiankowitsch Klaus Vondrovec WED 15.6. AND Anna Fabiankowitsch Heinz Winter MON 27.6. WED 7.9. AND 5.10. Klaus Vondrovec COPY-EDITING Karin Zeleny

3 PM IN GERMAN GRAPHIC DESIGN Rita Neulinger

*Lecture room, 2nd floor PARTNER Attendance is free, no reservation. **Meeting point: Entrance Hall Attendance is free with a valid entrance IN ASSOCIATION ticket, no reservation. WITH