Mint Place: Munich Engraver: J. J. Neus (the Elder) Mint Year: 1791 (MDCCXCI) Reference: Zepernick 77, Forster 511. Denomination: Sede Vacante Medal (1½ Thaler) Condition: Certified and graded by PCGS as SP-61! Weight: 46.68gm (1½ thaler weight!) Material: Silver Diameter: 50mm
Obverse: Front-view of the Brixen Cathedral. Medallist´s signature (I.I. NEVS F.) in exergue. Date in legend around as a roman numeral. Legend: SEDE VACANTE MDCCXCI
Reverse: Sixteen coats of arms of the canons around the coat of arms of the Cathedral Chapter. Horizontal crozier on heraldic eagle with spread eagles in center, surrounded by legend. LEgend: * CAPITVLVM REGNANS BRIXINENSE
Sede vacante (Latin for "the seat being vacant") is the state of an episcopal see while without a bishop. In the canon law of the Catholic Church, the term is used to refer to the vacancy of any see of a particular church, but it comes into especially wide journalistic use when the see is that of the papacy.