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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,419 |
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Valued Member
Poland
392 Posts |
So, at last my first Thaler have come to me today  It's Gabriel Báthory Thaler from 1611. Unfortunately the coin is in three parts and the fourth part disappeared during the centuries - but in spite of all I'm very happy that I have this coin in my collection    Edited by DagonX
10/06/2008 11:47 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing pictures.
Ben
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1415 Posts |
Interesting. How did the three parts stay together for soooooo long. Nice find  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5318 Posts |
Very interesting! I like it! Can anyone explain how these older coins get so brittle? The alloys must crystalize?  I know this is common for ancient Greek and Roman coins, but I'm surprised more recent coins would get this way. |
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Valued Member
United States
217 Posts |
Thats a tough to find taler. I dont think I have ever seen a coin of that period split like that. Neat find!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2703 Posts |
Very interesting thaler from Transylvania - I like the dragon - thanks for posting it!
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Valued Member
 Poland
392 Posts |
Thanks you all Yeah, it's very interesting thaler in my opinion too (it's the main reason why I bought it). t360, I think that the dragon is absolutely great and unconventional |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
240 Posts |
The theme of the Dragon eating its own tail is old. It is for example, the insignia of the elite chivalric order of the Dragon in medieval Europe. In this case though, the Dragon is a part of the Bathory family coat of arms. The Legend says that a knight named Vitus, in the Xth century, set out to kill a dragon in the swamp around the Ecsed castle (the same castle where Elisabetha Bathory, the "Blood Countess" was raised). Vitus Killed the Dragon with three lance hits. This is symbolised in the central shield with the three lance peaks.
Note though that Romanian people distinguish two types of dragons: the "Balaur", a mythological Balkanic creature, a dragon with many (usually 7) heads, and the occidental "Dragon". In this case Vitus fought a "Balaur". After the victory, he was nicknamed "Bathory", "the brave" in Hungarian.
I must confess though that even if I have some theories about the eagle and the right shield, I don't know what they actuelly represent.
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,419 |
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Posted 10/06/2008 11:44 am
