Austria 100 Euro Gold Coin 2009 The Archducal Crown of Austria, Series: Crowns of the House of Habsburg
Affectionately known as the ‘Archduke’s Hat’ due to the red velvet cap in its lining, the Archducal Crown was a symbol of authority never actually used in coronations. It is a relic of exquisite beauty nonetheless, as shown by the second coin in our Crowns of the House of Habsburg series.
Emperor Rudolf IV invented the title of ‘Archduke’ in an attempt to assert the status of the House of Habsburg as the equal of any Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. The Archduke’s Hat is a diadem of eight golden peaks, three of which can be seen on the coin’s obverse where the crown is shown resting on the cushion of the federal lower states of Austria. The cushion was used to carry the crown into Vienna from its home in the monastery of Klosterneuburg for the ceremony of homage paid by the Estates of Lower Austria on the accession of a new Habsburg ruler. The reverse of the coin depicts the solemn ceremonial procession, with three high-ranking officials carrying the crown, orb and sceptre from the palace to the cathedral through the streets of Vienna.
quality: proof
collection: Crowns of the Habsburgs
face value: 100 Euro
date of issue: 03.11.2009
coin design: Mag. Helmut Andexlinger
diameter: 30.00 mm
alloy: Gold Au 986
fine weight: 16.00 g
total weight: 16.23 g
The archducal hat (German: Erzherzogshut) is the insignia of the Archduchy of Austria. It is kept in Klosterneuburg Monastery in perpetuity.
The first archducal coronet (Erzherzogskrone) was shown on a portrait of Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, though this coronet probably never existed. Ernest the Iron (1377–1424) had a coronet made, and another was made on the death of Archduke Ferdinand II of the Tyrol in 1595.
The final crown of the Archduchy of Austria was made in 1616 for the regent of the Tyrol, Maximilian III. Its place of production remains unknown. It is kept at Klosterneuburg Monastery in Lower Austria. It was brought to Vienna in 1620 for the Ceremony of Homage by the Estates (the so-called Erbhuldigung) for the new ruler, and was last there in 1835.
An Archducal Hat of Tyrol was made for Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria in 1602 and is kept as a votive offering at the church of Mariastein in Tyrol. Another example was made for Joseph II in 1764 for his coronation as Holy Roman Emperor in Frankfurt, of which only the metal frame remains today.