The Taler Universe Collection

Archduke Ferdinand Charles (1646-1662)

Ferdinand Charles (17 May 1628 - 30 December 1662) was the Archduke of Further Austria, including the Tyrol, from 1646 to 1662.

As the son of Archduke Leopold V and Claudia de' Medici, he took over his mother's governatorial duties when he came of age in 1646. To finance his extravagant living style, he sold goods and entitlements. For example, he wasted the exorbitant sum which France had to pay to the Tyrolean Habsburgs for the cession of their fiefs west of the Rhine (Alsace, Sundgau and Breisach). He also fixed the border to Graubünden in 1652.

Ferdinand Charles was an absolutist ruler, did not call any diet after 1648 and had his chancellor Wilhelm Biener executed illegally in 1651 after a secret trial. On the other hand, he was a lover of music: Italian opera was performed in his court.

Ferdinand Charles married Anna de' Medici. She was a daughter of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Maria Magdalena of Austria († 1631).

They had two children:

Claudia Felicitas of Austria (30 May 1653 - 8 April 1676). Married Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. Maria Magdalena of Austria (17 August 1656 - 21 January 1669). He died in Kaltern.

1654. Austria. Archduke Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria (1632-1662) Taler. DAV-3367. KM-933.3. Tyrol, Hall Mint. Obv: Older, thinner bust right. Rev: Crowned arms in order chain. Fully lustrous with a lovely mottled golden tone. NGC graded MS-64.

The Dr. Robert Hesselgesser Collection. Goldberg's sale 36, lot 1890.

1652. Austria. Archduke Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria (1632-1662) Taler. Hall Mint. DAV-3366. M/T-505, N# 425618. Obv: Bust in armor on the right, legend in a circle around it, date at 3 o'clock. Lettering: ✤FERDINAND:CAROL:D:G:ARCHIDVX⬩AVST⬩16⬩5⬩2⬩ Rev: Crowned coat of arms, quartered in 1: Hungary, in 2: Bohemia, in 3: Austria-Burgundy, in 4: County of Goritz, entailed in point: Anterior Austria, over all the coat of arms of the County of Tyrol in the center. All surrounded by the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece, legend in a circle. Lettering: DVX⬩BVRGVND: COMES⬩TYROLIS⬩. Scarce date. AU with luster and nice dark golden patina

Austria. ND. Archduke Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria (1646-1662) Double Taler. DAV-3363. Tyrol, Hall Mint. Obverse: Bareheaded bust right. Reverse: Crowned eagle. A charming silver piece, beautifully toned in medium gray with hues of bluish lilac iridescence, sharply struck with crisp legends and a marvelously detailed, likelife portrait. As delightful as can be! From the famous Millennia Collection and Ex Irving Goodman Collection. NGC graded MS-64 and finest known.

Austria. ND. Archduke Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria (1646-1662) Double Taler. DAV-3363A. Tyrol, Hall Mint. M/T-512. KM-934. Obv. FERDINAND : CAROL : D : G :ARCHIDVX • AVST, draped and armored bust right, wearing Order of the Golden Fleece. Rev. DVX • BVRGVNDIÆ • COMES • TYROLIS : Crowned eagle facing, wreathed head left, wings displayed. An olive-gray base of tone blankets pleasing surfaces, with iridescent rainbow color mixed into the legends. NGC MS-64.

Austria. ND. Archduke Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria (1646-1662) Double Taler. Hall Mint. DAV-3364; KM-985. Hahn 9. M/T- 511. The sole finest graded example of the type in the NGC census, this impressive survivor presents a gunmetal gray tone with deeper hues accentuating the devices, all with a good deal of shimmering brilliance radiating in the fields. NGC MS-63+.