AUSTRIA-Salzburg 1/2 Thaler Klippe 1587-1612 Wolf Dietrich. NGC AU

Certification details

Certification number: 2177299-001

Grade: AU DETAILS

NGC collectible ID: 820909

Nominal value: 1/2T

Mint Mark: AUSTRIA

Variety: SALZBURG - KLIPPE

Year: (1587-1612)

1593, Salzburg, Wolf Dietrich. Silver 1/2 Thaler Klippe Coin. NGC AU+

Mint Place: Salzburg
Mint Period: 1587-1612
Denomination: 1/2 Thaler Klippe
Ruler (Prince-Archbishop): Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau.
Reference: Zöttl 984 (Type 6), Probszt 832, BR 1748-1752.
Condition: Certified and graded by NGC as AU (Details: Cleaned!)
Material: Silver
Weight: 14.28gm
Diameter: 42mm


Obverse: St. Rudbert, wearing episcopal regalia, seated facing slightly left, holding saltcellar and crozier, episcopal coat-of-arms before.
Legend: • SANCTVS • RVDBERTVS • EPS • SALISBVRG :

Reverse: Oval family coat-of-arms within baroque frame, surmounted by cross. Tasseled papal legate’s hat above.
Legend: + WOLF • TEOD : D : G : AR – EPS • SAL : AP : SE : LE : +



A klippe (plural: klippen) is a non-circular coin struck on a square, rectangular, or polygonal metal blank rather than a standard round planchet.

During wars or blockades, besieged cities often lacked the time or specialized equipment to punch round blanks. Authorities quickly cut silver plates or melted down church silverware into squares to pay soldiers and keep local trade moving.



Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau (1559–1617) was an influential Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg who transformed the city into a Baroque architectural jewel. Born into a noble family and educated in Rome, he ruled Salzburg from 1587 until 1612. During his reign, he rebuilt much of the city after a major fire and constructed famous landmarks like the Mirabell Palace for his longtime mistress, Salome Alt, with whom he had fifteen children. His aggressive tax policies and disputes over salt trade rights eventually led to a war with Bavaria, resulting in his capture and imprisonment at Hohensalzburg Fortress until his death in 1617.

Shipping