The Taler Universe Collection

Ferdinand III (1637-1657)

Ferdinand III, (born July 13, 1608, Graz, Inner Austria-died April 2, 1657, Vienna), Holy Roman emperor who headed the so-called peace party at the Habsburg imperial court during the Thirty Years' War and ended that war in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia.

The eldest son of the emperor Ferdinand II and Maria Anna of Bavaria, the energetic and able Ferdinand took part in ministerial councils and affairs of state from 1626. Archduke of Austria from 1621, he was crowned king of Hungary in 1625 and of Bohemia in 1627. Denied command of the imperial armies by Generalissimo Albrecht von Wallenstein, he took part in the conspiracy against the generalissimo and was partly responsible for his death in 1634. Thereafter, Ferdinand nominally commanded the Habsburg armies and in 1634 captured Regensburg and defeated the Swedes at the first Battle of Nördlingen in the same year. As leader of the peace party at the Austrian court, he encouraged negotiations leading to the Peace of Prague (May 1635), by which the emperor Ferdinand II tacitly abandoned his centralist and absolutist plans and restored the status quo of 1627.

Elected king of the Romans (heir to the imperial throne) in 1636, Ferdinand became emperor on his father's death the next year. Although he refused to allow religious freedom in his own domains and would not reinstate dispossessed Protestant nobility, he did not hesitate to compromise with Europe's Protestant powers and agreed to the Peace of Westphalia, which ended 30 years of religious strife in central Europe and granted greater freedoms for Protestantism in Hungary. In internal affairs Ferdinand's creation of a standing army and his reform of the imperial council attest to his administrative ability. On his death his second son, Leopold I, succeeded him as emperor.

1641/39. Emperor Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Augsburg Taler. DAV-5039. Spectacular specimen - sharp strike, lovely original patina. Stellar coin. PCGS MS-65.

1640. Austria. Emperor Ferdinand III (1637-1657). Graz Mint. DAV-3186. Hahn:25a, Herinek:395, Voglh:192/II, Pichler 14. Obv: Laureate bust of Ferdinand III facing right, punctuated date below bust. Rev: Crowned ornamental Arms on reverse. NGC MS-64.

1641/39. Austria. Emperor Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Double Taler 1641/39, Graz Mint, Silver(55.56g), Dav-A3186, Fantastic old cabinet toning, very rare in this condition. NGC MS-63.

1648-M. Austria. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Taler. DAV-3190. Stryria. Graz Mint. Scarcer type. Strong strike, sharp details and lovely toning over luster. Fabulous addition to my set. I really like this one. NGC MS-64.

1649. Austria. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Taler. DAV-3177. KM-840. Lower Austria. Vienna Mint. Scarcer type and mint. Wonderful piece having a superb strike coupled with toning over mint luster. Scarce this nice. NGC MS-64.

1648-KB. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Taler. Kremnitz Mint. DAV-3198. Superb strike, coupled by lovely toning and accents. Natural patina across surfaces. NGC MS-64.

1652-KB. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Taler. Kremnitz Mint. DAV-3198. Strong strike for the type, highy lustrous. highly desired in such condition. This remarkable Taler has survived the test of time and man. Many Talers don't exhibit the type of delicate champagne tone on both sides that are accentuated by light amber highlights gracefully. Nor surfaces that are virtually unscathed. Minuscule weakness exists in the strike within the peripheries but considered the splendid overall condition it's irrelevant. Elegantly sharp comes to mind when viewing this offering. NGC MS-64.

1657. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Taler. DAV-3194. Carinthia. St. Veit Mint. Scarce type and mint. Lustrous coin with lovely coloring all around. They don't come nicer than this. NGC MS-64.

1657. Austria. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Taler. DAV-3184. KM-840. Lower Austria. Vienna Mint. Lovely irridesent toning with lot of luster.. Scarce variety this nice. NGC MS-64.