Posted 02/16/2012 02:59 am
The territory known as Transylvania was never a fully independent country. Being in the border regions between the Ottoman Empire and Holy Roman Empire, it's ownership was contested by both sides, with rulers appointed by whichever power was in ascendancy striking coins from the mints in Transylvanian territory. For the period of Hungarian domination (up to 1526), the only difference between "Transylvanian" coins and other Hungarian coins was the mintmark.
Once the Ottoman vassal principality was established (1570-1711), Transylvanian coins of distinctive design became more common. "Transylvania" is a very long Latin word to put on a coin, and it's usually abbreviated, and the abbreviation is often lost amongst the other titles the Prince held. "TR" is the most common abbreviation; "TRANSYL" is about the least abbreviated you will find easily, on coins such as this gold ducat of 1613.
There are a very few scarce coins that spell the name out in full, some large gold multiple-ducats, but you've got to pay the big bucks for them. This 5-ducat of 1660, for example, has a double-ring of reverse legend with "TRANS" in the outer ring and continuing "ILVANIAE" in the inner ring. Some later multiple thalers from the time of the Hapsburg takeover also depict the name in full; example.
In 1711, with the line of native prices extinct, the title of "Prince of Transylvania" became a Hapsburg plaything, while actual control of the territory was placed in the hands of appointed governors. "Transylvanian" coins of this period often have no mention of the name at all, though the Transylvanian coat of arms remained prominent.
Once the Ottoman vassal principality was established (1570-1711), Transylvanian coins of distinctive design became more common. "Transylvania" is a very long Latin word to put on a coin, and it's usually abbreviated, and the abbreviation is often lost amongst the other titles the Prince held. "TR" is the most common abbreviation; "TRANSYL" is about the least abbreviated you will find easily, on coins such as this gold ducat of 1613.
There are a very few scarce coins that spell the name out in full, some large gold multiple-ducats, but you've got to pay the big bucks for them. This 5-ducat of 1660, for example, has a double-ring of reverse legend with "TRANS" in the outer ring and continuing "ILVANIAE" in the inner ring. Some later multiple thalers from the time of the Hapsburg takeover also depict the name in full; example.
In 1711, with the line of native prices extinct, the title of "Prince of Transylvania" became a Hapsburg plaything, while actual control of the territory was placed in the hands of appointed governors. "Transylvanian" coins of this period often have no mention of the name at all, though the Transylvanian coat of arms remained prominent.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
