The Eggenberg Family and the Power of Money

In 1625, Emperor Ferdinand II. granted Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg and his descendants the privilege of minting gold and silver coins with their own portraits and names. For just over 60 years, the Eggenbergs made use of their minting rights and produced ducats, thalers, florins and groschen. Today, these coins are unique rarities.

The Coin Cabinet has outstanding evidence of the minting activities of the Eggenbergs thanks to its collection history dating far back into the 19th century.

In the special exhibition, the rise, splendour and decline of the Eggenberg dynasty are presented on the basis of these coins. In addition, examples of the diversity of coinage in the Holy Roman Empire in the 17th century are presented. However, the monetary history background is also illuminated, when the coinage system collapsed at the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, forcing Emperor Ferdinand II to declare state bankruptcy.

In addition, Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg's connection to the network of a consortium to which the Emperor leased the coinage in Bohemia, Moravia and Austria and which realised high profits through the production of bad coins is also discussed.