Image collection »Hasegg«

At the end of the middle ages trade relations grew very rapidly. In the 16th century a lack of gold guilders gave Archduke Sigmund the idea of minting silver coins ten times the value of gold. The archduke named these coins which had the same value as gold guldiners, but finally the name "taler" caught on. In 1567 the first guldiner was minted in Burg Hasegg castle in Hall which had been built 200 years previously. Over the years the castle's tower got the name "Münzturm" (Mint or Coin Tower). During the mint's heyday some 4.200 coins could be minted daily, which represents an appreciable sum for those days. This activity also contributed to the fact that Hall was already a popular meeting place for travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Coin production ceased in 1809. Nowadays Burg Hasegg castle attracts many visitors to its tower where the mint has been rebuilt and it is now possible to mint your own coin.