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 Replies: 7 / Views: 3,036 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1429 Posts |
A klippe is a square coin minted on more easily produced square flans. These coins were usually issued under unfavourable conditions, such as a city under siege. Such emergency coins were issued in Vienna in 1529, while the city was besieged by the troops of the Ottoman Empire.
I have been considering this piece given its condition and design. These are harder to find in decent condition. It is a Salzburg, Wolf Dietrich Graf von. Raitenau "Klippe" Half Taler from 1593 (No Date on Klippe). Half length bust of St. Rupert above Salzburg arms/High tower with thunderstorm and wind all around it. I believe this is referring to the Tower of Babel.  Historical Reference: Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, the king who is named more than 90 times in the Old Testament, the restoration and enlargement of the ziggurat in Babylon is completed after 43 years of labor. The ziggurat was originally built around the time of Hammurabi. It has been calculated that for its construction at least 17 million bricks had to be made and fired. Some of these bricks are stamped with inscriptions in cuneiform. Later the ziggurat will be known as the Tower of Babel and the few bricks from this that survive are known as "Tower of Babel bricks" or Nebuchadnezzar II bricks.
"Babylon with the ziggurat was captured by Kyros 538 BC, Dareios I 519 BC, Xerxes ca. 483 BC, and entirely destroyed by Alexander I the Great in 331 BC. It is this tall stepped temple tower which is referred to in Genesis 11:1-9, and became known as 'The Tower of Babel'. The bricks are specifically mentioned in Genesis 11:3: 'Come, let us make bricks and bake them in the fire. — For stone they used bricks and for mortar they used bitumen'. The black bitumen is still visible on the back of the present baked brick. These bricks are considered so important and interesting that British Museum had their copy on exhibit with special handout descriptions, from where parts of the present information is taken. Nebuchadnezzar II was the founder of the New Babylonian empire. He captured Jerusalem in 596 and 586 BC, burnt down the temple and all of Jerusalem, carried its treasures off to Babylon, and took the Jews into captivity (2 kings 24-25). Nebuchadnezzar II is the king who is named more than 90 times in the Old Testament. Daniel 1-4 is almost entirely devoted to the description of his greatness and reign, his rise and fall, and submission to God." Edited by Zohar444
02/28/2009 8:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
NIce! I have always found these to be fascinating types of thalers.
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
1361 Posts |
nice klippe and interesting story  |
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Pillar of the Community
Egypt
3470 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Always enjoy seeing new additions to your collection.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1429 Posts |
Thanks guys. I am exiting my US collection (complete Liberty nickel, Walker Half, Franklin sets up on forum and soon, ebay). I enjoy the particular focus, and the wife will enjoy fewer coins around! |
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Valued Member
United States
217 Posts |
Wow - that is a nice looking piece Zohar. It has some real nice surfaces and color. I love the tower of babel reference. I don't have any klippes in my collection yet.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1429 Posts |
Brent, apparently this is a world of its own. I am trying to get my hand on the book: Die Munzen Salzburgs by Gunther Probszt-Ohstorff. It has better coverage on these types than the Davenport. Would appreciate any other references you may have on these types.
Edited by Zohar444
03/01/2009 11:27 am
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Replies: 7 / Views: 3,036 |
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Posted 03/01/2009 12:22 am
