1891 Ebnat-Kappel
Actual 45 mm size by Hughes Bovy, Louis Furet, Genf / J. Stauffacher
Obverse.
Arrayed in garments of tradition and refinement, a pair of distinguished gentlemen stand side by side, their countenances aglow with the radiant joy of victory. Each man, embodying the spirit of camaraderie, holds aloft a floral crown, a resplendent symbol of triumph bestowed upon the champion of the shooting competition.
The gentleman on the left, his visage graced with the wisdom of years and the soft whiteness of a well-tended beard, clutches the barrel of his trusted marksman’s rifle, a faithful companion throughout many a competition. With a mirthful grin that speaks of both pride and delight, he elevates the vibrant wreath above his head, the blossoms catching the light as if echoing the very happiness within his heart.
Beside him stands his equally joyous companion, adorned in a traditional skullcap that crowns his head with dignity, complemented by a fine bowtie and waistcoat that exude elegance. He raises his right hand to join in the celebration, lifting the same victor’s wreath with an air of casual grace, his left hand resting at his waist and his right foot positioned comfortably over the left. The ease of his posture, combined with the broad smile that adorns his face, leaves no doubt that a grand revelry awaits them, filled with laughter and merriment.
At the heart of this triumphant tableau lies the proud heraldry of St. Gallen, a blazon that captures the essence of authority and governance. The emblem displays a fasces, an axe bound with six wooden rods, signifying magisterial power and the unity of law. This noble insignia takes its rightful place at the center of their celebration, encircled by flourishing branches of laurel, symbols of honor and victory, all held together by delicate ribbons that weave a tapestry of festivity and respect.
In this moment, under the watchful gaze of the past and the aspirations for the future, these gentlemen embody the spirit of their heritage—a joyful homage to the enduring values of brotherhood, skill, and the pursuit of excellence in the noble art of marksmanship.
Inscriptions.
Unsere Kunst und unsere Kraft dem Vaterlande!
– Our Skills and Our Strength to the Fatherland!
Reverse.
Upon the distinguished blazon coat of arms of the county of Toggenburg, there stands proudly the canting dog emblem, a symbol steeped in both history and significance. This noble insignia harkens back to a time when these lands were acquired by the venerable Abbot of Saint Gallen, a figure of great authority and piety whose influence once extended across these verdant hills and valleys.
The shield, resplendent in its design, rests gracefully upon a bed of rare edelweiss, those delicate alpine flowers that bloom in the rugged heights, their purity and beauty emblematic of the very essence of Toggenburg’s pastoral splendor. Each blossom, a testament to the resilience of nature amidst the austere mountain landscape, serves as a fitting frame for the emblematic shield, intertwining the legacy of the past with the rich tapestry of the region's heritage.
In days of yore, this land, under the watchful eye of the Abbot, flourished as a bastion of culture and faith, where the noble dog emblem came to signify loyalty, guardianship, and the unwavering bond between the land and its people. As such, the coat of arms stands not merely as a mark of ownership, but as a proud reminder of a storied lineage, whispering tales of valor and virtue to all who behold it.
Thus, upon this emblem, the dog, steadfast and noble, symbolizes the enduring spirit of Toggenburg—a place where history and nature entwine in a harmonious embrace, where the past resonates through the present, and where each edelweiss bloom nods in silent acknowledgment of the legacy it so beautifully adorns.
Background.
In 1207, abbot Ulrich von Sax becomes a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire by King Philip of Swabia. The abbey became a Princely Abbey, and as the abbey became more involved in local politics, it entered a period of decline. The city of St. Gallen proper progressively freed itself from the rule of the abbot, acquiring Imperial immediacy, and by the late 15th century was recognized as a Free imperial city. By about 1353 the guilds, headed by the cloth-weavers guild, gained control of the civic government. In 1415 the city bought its liberty from the German king King Sigismund.
In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the farmers of the abbot's personal estates began seeking independence. In 1401, the first of the Appenzell Wars broke out, and following the Appenzell victory at Stoss in 1405 they became allies of the Swiss Confederation in 1411. During the Appenzell Wars, the town of St. Gallen often sided with Appenzell against the abbey. So when Appenzell allied with the Swiss, the town of St. Gallen followed just a few months later. The abbot became an ally of several members of the Swiss Confederation (Zürich, Lucerne, Schwyz and Glarus) in 1451. While Appenzell and St. Gallen became full members of the Swiss Confederation in 1454, then in 1457 the town of St. Gallen became officially free from the abbot.
In 1468 the abbot, Ulrich Rösch, bought the County of Toggenburg from the representatives of its counts, after the family died out in 1436. The heraldry blazon of Toggenburg was the symbol of the Canting Dog. Both the city and the abbey were associates (Zugewandte Orte) of the Old Swiss Confederacy, but unlike Appenzell never joined as full members.
In 1798 the Prince-Abbot's secular power was suppressed, and the abbey was secularized. The monks were driven out and moved into other abbeys. The abbey became a separate See in 1846, with the abbey church as its cathedral and a portion of the monastic buildings for the bishop.
In 1803, as part of the Act of Mediation, the area joined the Swiss Confederation as the Canton of St. Gallen.
Ebnat-Kappel is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Toggenburg, belonging to the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.
In celebration of the Grand Schützenfest held in 1891, in the olden township of Ebnat-Kappel, a part of the Toggenburg region in the Canton of St Gallen.