Thaler ("Walzentaler" = "rolling-dies thaler", referring rolling-dies minting technology).
Obverse: Crowned, armored and beareded half-lenght figure, (with elderly features) right, holding sword and scepter.
Legend: . FERD . D . G . RO . HVNG . BOH . DAL . CROA . REX *
Comment: The titles include Dalmatia and Croatia!
Reverse: Single headed heraldic eagle left, with shield including Austrian (stripes of Hapsburg) and Spanish (castle of Castile) arms.
Comment: The spanish arms shows the re-established connection to spain. The emperor was raised there!
Legend: INF . HIS : ARCHIDVX . AVSTRIE . DVX : BVR : *
Reference: Davenport 8030, Markl 1603, KM-. R!
Weight: 28.52 gram of Silver
Diameter: 41 mm
A rolling-dies mint was introduced in Austria during the rule of Ferdinand II (after 1564), which led previously to the wrong conclusion, that this rare type is a posthumous strike. Due to further research and numismatic discussions, the origin of the so called "Walzentaler" ("rolling-dies thaler") became more likely to be Augsburg, where the Emperor spent few more few months (January 1555 - September 1555). A nice specimen of this rare type, with raising popularity, especially after the discovery of its German-City-Mint origin!