Austria Silver 3 Kreuzer Of Leopold I “The Hogmouth” (AD 1657–1705) NGC

This NGC-certified silver 3 Kreuzer coin was issued under Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor from 1657 until his death in 1705. Born in Vienna in 1640, Leopold was a deeply cultured monarch—a patron of the arts, an amateur composer, and a devout Catholic. Though not a military man by nature, his reign was marked by prolonged warfare, including three unsuccessful conflicts with Louis XIV’s France and the more decisive repulsion of the Ottoman Turks from Hungary.

Leopold's legacy is complex. While he failed in his attempts to stamp out Protestantism and contain French expansion, he played a pivotal role in defending Central Europe from Ottoman advances and contributed to the cultural flourishing of the Baroque period.

Yet history remembers Leopold perhaps most vividly for his pronounced mandibular prognathism, a hereditary condition better known as the “Habsburg jaw.” A product of generations of Habsburg inbreeding, Leopold's facial structure was immortalized—if exaggerated—on his coinage. The depiction on this 3 Kreuzer coin earned him the derisive nickname "The Hogmouth." Ironically, contemporary accounts suggest that while Leopold was not handsome, his deformity was likely overstated by the engraver’s unflattering portrait.

The silver 3 Kreuzer denomination served as small change in the Habsburg realms and is a fascinating blend of numismatic artistry, imperial propaganda, and dynastic eccentricity.

Encapsulated and certified by NGC, this coin offers a unique combination of historical narrative and visual symbolism, making it a standout piece for collectors interested in the Habsburg dynasty, European royal portraiture, or the oddities of hereditary rule.