Owner Comments:
1887 Austria. Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848-1916) 2 Gulden. Vienna Mint. Reopening of the Kuttenberg silver mines. DAV-33. KM-XM7, Thun-467. Frühwald 1904a, Davenport 33, Moravec 69a, Novotný 155 (AR), Herinek 1136. Struck to commemorate the reopening of the Kuttenberg mines, which traces its roots back to the medieval period as a powerful commercial and political center of Bohemia, second only to Prague until the modern era. An exceedingly scarce issue with a total mintage of 400, with only a fraction being original Proofs. Covetable in any grade, let alone near-choice, and boasting a metallic backdrop that supports the heavily frosted and meticulously engraved raised features, decorated with scattered wisps that define the grade but do little to hinder the overall aesthetic appeal of this fleeting and highly collectible commemorative issue. NGC PF-62 Cameo.
Commemorative medals became in 18th century already a tool of state propagation and were issued not only at coronations, but also at important political and national economic events. The economic and political blossom of the monarchy at the reign of Kaiser Franz Joseph I. brought upon a series of events, the meaning of which had to be emphasized by publishing some very popular commemoration medals. Awarding medals to important personalities belonged to essential rituals of contemporary social and political life. Most notable contemporary medal designers and engravers were appointed to artistically design the medals. Names as Marschall, Neuberger, Neudeck, Radnitzky, Seidan, Scharff, Tautenhayn were a guarantee for the highest artistic quality. The long reign of Franz Joseph I. initiated the creation of a unique collection of portrait medals, that literally constitute an artistic gallery of the second half of 19th and the beginning of 20th century. The changing Kaiser portrait design reflects not only his age from 18-year-old young man to a dignified old man, but also certain changes of artistic style according to the contemporary fashion. While the Emperor is getting older on the portraits with age, the used artistic style is getting younger. The artistic medal design from the last periods of reign clearly anticipates the coming wave of modernism. Because of the outstanding artistic qualities, the most notable contemporary collectors added governmental medals into their collections. They became jewels in collections of Kilián, Donnebauer, Windischgrätz, Berger, Horsky, Lanna, Hollschek and Chaura and have stayed until today. Hardly any larger collection of Franz Joseph I. coins can be imagined without at least some medals with the portrait of the long-lived emperor. To create a specialized collection, a large portion of collector's ascetism and patience is needed because of the rarity of some pieces.