A silver medal commemorating the emigration of Protestants from Salzburg
Avers with a finely chased depiction of a Salzburg emigrant family beneath the shield of a warrior, inscribed "HIER FINDT DIE WARHEIT SCHVZ VND RVH" and dated MDCCXXXIII. Revers the enthroned allegory of Holland inscribed "DORT SCHCKT DER HIMMEL SEEGEN ZV" and "AUFNAHM DER SALZB. EMIGR. IN DEN VER. NIEDERL.". Containing a complete set of engravings documenting the history of the Reformation in Salzburg and the emigration, the reverse with atlas decor. The insides of the lids mounted with two coloured maps inscribed "ERZSTIFFT SALTZBURG" and "KÖNIGREICH PREUSSEN", one signed "Abraham Remshard excud Aug. Vindel." The engravings well preserved, some of the connecting elements defective. D 4.3; H 0.5 cm, weight 19 g.
Augsburg, Abraham Remshard, 1733.
Like the Prussian king, the Low Countries also assured the Salzburg exiles free entry into their terretories and practice of their religion. Thus, on 30th November 1732, about 780 people, mainly Lutheran miners from the Dürrnberg mine near Hallein and their relatives, set out on their journey to the Netherlands. After an arduous flight, they did not arrive until 9th March 1733, on the island of Cadzand, where soon after more than one hundred of the emigrants died of a fever epidemic. Contrary to the promises made to distribute them throughout the island, only 42 families with a total of 216 people decided to stay in the country.
Provenance
Dutch private collection.
Literature
Cf. H. Zöttl, Salzburg Münzen und Medaillen 1500-1810, Frühwald 2009, no. 2789, and E. Preßler, Schraubtaler und Steckmedaillen. Verborgene Kostbarkeiten, Stuttgart 2000, no. 844.