100 Euro Slovakia 2018 Ferdinand II. (Proof)

€100 gold collector coin - Bratislava coronations - 400th anniversary of the coronation of Ferdinand II

In 1536, after the occupation of vast parts of the Hungarian kingdom by the Ottomans, Bratislava (then Pressburg) became the new capital of the Kingdom of Hungary and it also served as the coronation city. Between 1563 and 1830, eleven Hungarian rulers were crowned there. This status led to intensive development in the city. Ferdinand II became the fourth ruler from the House of Habsburg to hold his coronation ceremony here on 1 July 1618. The elite of the aristocracy and clergy met in the metropolis on the River Danube and the city held spectacular celebrations, processions and feasts that culminated on the day of the coronation. Ferdinand II (1578-1637) was one of the most prominent figures in 17th-century Europe. Besides the Hungarian royal title, he was also the Czech king and the Holy Roman Emperor. He played a significant role in the re-Catholicisation of Central Europe.

Obverse:

The obverse side depicts a period scene of the procession for the coronation of Ferdinand II in Pressburg (Bratislava), with decorative semicircular bands added in the upper and lower parts. To the right of the scene is the Slovak coat of arms. Above the upper band is the coin’s denomination and currency ‘100 EURO’, and below the lower band are the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’ and the year of issuance ‘2018’.

Reverse:

The reverse depicts a portrait of Ferdinand II set within a circular decorative band. In semicircle around the upper half of the design is the inscription ‘KORUNOVÁCIA FERDINANDA II.’ (‘The coronation of Ferdinand II’), and in semicircle below the design is the inscription ‘BRATISLAVA 1618’, denoting the place and year of the coronation. On the left side is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the letters ‘MK’ placed between two dies. On the right side are the stylised letters ‘KL’, the initials of the designer, Karol Ličko.