1/8 Thaler
Free imperial city of Nuremberg
1650
Composition: Silver
Weight: 2.71g
Length by Width: 20.9 x 21.7mm
Thickness: 0.7mm
|
|
1/8 Thaler Free imperial city of Nuremberg 1650 Composition: Silver Weight: 2.71g Length by Width: 20.9 x 21.7mm Thickness: 0.7mm |
|
|
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, lasting from 1618 to 1648. Fought primarily in Central Europe, an estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died. 1618 to 1635 was primarily a civil war between German states in the Holy Roman Empire. France, Sweden, and Spain had larger roles after 1635. The Peace of Westphalia is the collective name for two peace treaties signed in October 1648. A diplomatic congress was convened in Nuremberg in the Spring of 1649 to address the mechanics of implementing the treaties. Nuremberg had largely escaped the destruction from the war and served as the venue for the congress. Negotiations began in April 1649, centering around the King of Sweden and the Holy Roman Emperor. France, Spain, and the German states held secondary roles. The final treaty was signed on June 16, 1650. A number of coins were issued in Nuremberg to commemorate the peace: 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 Klippe Thalers. A klippe is a word of Swedish origin (meaning "to shear") referring to a coin struck by a hammer on an irregularly shaped flan. These were initially made for emergency currency by cities under siege in the 1500s, they were later used for commemorative coins. A group of boys rode their stick horses to the delegate appointed by Emperor Ferdinand III, asking him for a way to commemorate the peace. These 1/8 thalers were minted as a result. |
Pictured above is a print by Peter Troschel from a drawing by Michael Herz, circa 1650. A fireworks display in Nuremberg, celebrating the end of the Thirty Years War. Ruler: Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor House: Habsburg Born 1608 - Died 1657 Ferdinand III Ascended the throne in 1637, after his father Ferdinand II died. He was Emperor for the last decade of The Thirty Years' War. His successor to the throne was his son, Leopold I. The throne of the Holy Roman Empire was continuously occupied by the Habsburgs from 1440 until their extinction in the male line in 1740, and, as the Habsburg-Lorraines, from 1765 until its dissolution in 1806. |
|
1/3 Thaler County of Mansfeld - Eisleben 1669 Composition: Silver Weight: 9.64g Diameter: 31.7mm Thickness: 1.5mm |
|
|
This coin features Saint George slaying a dragon. Saint George was an early Christian martyr. He was an imperial guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, and was sentenced to death for his Christian faith. The Diocletianic Persecution was the last persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. In 303 Roman Emperors issued edicts demanding Christians comply with traditional religious practices. George was executed in 303. The dragon slayng narrative has pre-Christian origins, and was applied to other saints before George. The first record of Saint George slaying a dragon was from the 11th century. |
Pictured above is the painting, Saint George and the Princess, by Italian painter Antonio Cicognara from the late 15th century. |
|
2/3 Thaler Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg 1676 Composition: Silver Weight: 14.96g Diameter: 34.8mm Thickness: 1.7mm |
|
16 Gute Groschen Brunswick-Lüneburg-Celle 1694 Composition: Silver Weight: 16.89g Diameter: 35.7mm Thickness: 1.9mm |
|
4 Kreuzers Bishopric of Bamberg 1696 Composition: Silver Weight: 2.27g Diameter: 23mm Thickness: 0.8mm |
|
This coin features Henry II (Saint Henry) born 973, died 1024. Holy Roman Emperor from 1014 - 1024. Last Ruler of the Ottonian Dynasty. Henry II strengthened the relationship between the Empire and the Catholic Church. He granted land and the title of "Prince of The Empire" to bishops, instead of nobility. Cleric princes made up a large part of Henry II's Imperial army, and counties were assigned to secular rulership by bishops. Due to his promotion of the church, he was the only medieval German monarch to be honored as a Saint. Henry II is holding The Globus Cruciger, a cross on top of an orb, representing Christ's dominion over the world. It is part of the Imperial Regalia, along with the crown and the Imperial sceptre. The coin's value (4) is in the orb. |
Bamberg is a German town dating back to the 9th century. It was the center of the Holy Roman Empire during the 12th century. Lothar Franz von Schönborn was the Bishop of Bamberg from 1693 to 1729, and was also the Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1711 he crowned Charles VI of Austria as the Holy Roman Emperor. Charles VI awarded Lothar 100,000 guldens for his loyalty. Lothar used these funds to begin construction on Schloss Weißenstein, a palatial residence in Bamberg. The palace holds the largest private art gallery in Germany, and is still owned by the Schönborn family today. |
|
24 Mariengroschen (2/3 Thaler) Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1697 Composition: Silver Weight: 13.02g Diameter: 36.5mm Thickness: 1.9mm |
|
According to legend, miners in the Harz Mountains of Germany encountered a "Wild Man" in 1529. The wild man was described as being coverd in hair, wearing only leaves and a moss cap. He wielded an uprooted fir tree as a weapon. The wild man was hunted and captured, he later died from his wounds before he could be brought to the Duke of Brunswick. Large silver deposits were discovered where the wild man was captured, in West Harz. The town of "Wildemann" was founded at this location in 1529. Depictions of the "Wild Man" can be found on coins from the 1500s - 1800s. |
Rulers: Rudolph Augustus & Anthony Ulrich House: Welf Rudolph Born 1627 - Died 1704 | Anthony Born 1633 - Died 1714 Rudolph Augustus was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1666 until his death. Rudolph was more interested in studying and hunting. He left most goverment decisions to his younger brother, Anthony Ulrich. In 1685 Rudoplh made Anthony his co-ruler with equal rights. Anthony Ulrich made significant additions to the the Bibliotheca Augusta, the largest library north of the Alps in the 17th Century. The library was well protected, and one of the oldest in the world to have never suffered loss to its collection. |
|
6 Mariengroschen (1/6 Thaler) Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg-Hannover 1700 Composition: Silver Weight: 3.09g Diameter: 25.1mm Thickness: 0.9mm |
|
24 Mariengroschen (2/3 Thaler) Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg-Hannover 1705 Composition: Silver Weight: 12.61g Diameter: 35.9mm Thickness: 1.3mm |
|
30 Kreuzer Electorate of Bavaria 1718 Composition: Silver Weight: 5.82g Diameter: 28.8mm Thickness: 0.9mm |
|
1/4 Thaler Switzerland - City of Basel 1740 Composition: Silver Weight: 6.38g Diameter: 28.3mm Thickness: 1.2mm |
|
1/6 Thaler County of Stolberg 1764 Composition: Silver Weight: Diameter: Thickness: |
|
1/8 Thaler Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel 1767 Composition: Silver Weight: Diameter: Thickness: |
|
16 Schilling Courant Free Hanseatic city of Hamburg 1789 Composition: Silver Weight: Diameter: Thickness: |
|
1/6 Thaler Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenberg-Hannover 1793 Composition: Silver Weight: 3.22g Diameter: 23.1mm Thickness: 0.8mm |
|
20 Kreuzer Kingdom of Bavaria 1809 Composition: Silver .583 Weight: 6.66g Diameter: 28.3mm Thickness: 1.1mm |
|
6 Kreuzer Free imperial city of Frankfurt 1854 Composition: Billon - .333 silver Weight: 2.27g Diameter: 20.1mm Thickness: 0.9mm |
|
1/6 Thaler Duchy of Anhalt - Bernburg 1861 Composition: Silver .520 Weight: 5.31g Diameter: 22.7mm Thickness: 1.4mm |
|
1 Thaler Kingdom of Prussia 1871 Composition: Silver .900 Weight: 18.47g Diameter: 32.9mm Thickness: 2.6mm |
|
1/2 Mark Germany 1905 Composition: Silver .900 Weight: 2.69g Diameter: 19.9mm Thickness: 0.9mm |
|
20 Pfennig Federal state of Saxony 1921 Composition: Porcelain Weight: 1.25g Diameter: 18.7mm Thickness: 2.5mm |