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1521. Austria. Salzburg. Cardinal Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg (1519-1540) 2 Guldiner. Hall Mint. DAV-8156. Weight: 54.75 gms. Struck for the consecration of the Radiana Chapel in Wellenburg. Obverse: Bust left in ecclesiastical regalia with biretta, date in Roman numerals in field, coat of arms of Gurk, Lang, and the abbey in peripheries; Reverse: Saint Radiana stands half-left with two wolves attacking, spilled bucket and washing utensils below, trees and Wellenburg Castle in background. A hefty and imposing Double Guldiner sporting a highly artistic depiction of Radiana in the late Renaissance style, her body twisting away from the ferocious wolves in a lifelike fashion, her tub spilling at dramatically at her feet. VERY RARE in this About Uncirculated state, with enviable problem-free surfaces pervaded by handsome antique toning, and a bold strike to the high-relief design. The reverse is particularly strong, with little wear evident and bold detail to the flowing gowns of Radiana and the fur of the wolves. About as lovely an example as one could hope for, and an elusive opportunity for collectors of early-dated Crown-sized issues. NGC AU-53.
Saint Radiana was a maid who worked in service of the lord of Wellenburg Castle in the late 13th century. According to legend, she would each day clandestinely bring food from the castle to a nearby colony of lepers. One day, her master found her carrying a tub of food, and upon his query regarding the contents of the tub, she answered that it was dirty linen. Miraculously, when she uncovered the tub, the food had been transformed into linen, and once he had gone it transformed back to food. As she continued her journey to the colony of lepers, she was attacked and killed by wolves, purportedly in punishment for her lie. While Radiana was never officially canonized, she was venerated in the Augsburg region as a saint. Cardinal Lang was particularly expressive of this belief, and commissioned several woodcut prints and coins in her honor upon the construction of a chapel over her tomb in 1521.