2/3 Thaler
Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg
1676
Composition: Silver
Weight: 14.96g
Diameter: 34.8mm
Thickness: 1.7mm
John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Prince of Calenberg
House: Hanover
Born 1625 - Died 1679
|
|
2/3 Thaler Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg 1676 Composition: Silver Weight: 14.96g Diameter: 34.8mm Thickness: 1.7mm John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Prince of Calenberg House: Hanover Born 1625 - Died 1679 |
|
The obverse of this coin features the bust of John Frederick. John was the only member of his family to convert to the Catholic Church. He had four daughters with his wife, Benedicta Henrietta. With no male heir, the Duchy of Brunswick passed to his younger brother Ernest Augustus, when John Frederick died in 1679. His older brother was George William. In 1676 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz became employed by the Duke of Brunswick. Leibniz worked in various capacities, including historian, librarian, and councillor. He spent time in the mines of the Harz mountains attempting to develop wind powered water pumps to keep the mines drained. Leibniz was considered a genius and an influential philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. |
The reverse of this coin features a palm tree on an island with two ships in the distance. The palm tree motif represents strength, being able to bend and withstand a storm. The motto "EX DURIS GLORIA" above the palm translates to "from suffering, glory" or "from hardship, glory" Brunswick-Lüneburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire since 1235. |