Thalers of the Pre Empire German States Chapter 5 An introduction to Thaler denominations: A. In these "Thalers of the Pre Empire German States" Chapters you'll see denominations on the coins reading Thaler, Reichsthaler, Vereinsthaler, Vereinsdopplethaler, Conventionthaler (aka Konventionthaler) and Kronenthaler.. I. Thaler and Veriensthaler: B. The Vereinsthaler was introduced in 1857 to replace the previous standard Thaler (based on the Prussian Thaler) which was very slightly heavier. Whilst the earlier Thaler had contained one fourteenth of a Cologne mark of silver (16.704 grams), the Vereinsthaler contained 16 2/3 grams of silver, which was indicated on the coins as one thirtieth of a pound (pfund, equal to 500 grams). I. The Vereinsthaler was used as the base for several different currencies. In Prussia and several other northern German states, the Vereinsthaler was the standard unit of account, divided into 30 Silbergroschen, each of 12 Pfennig. C. Dopple translates from German to English as Double so a Dopplethaler is 2 Thalers. I. Vereiensdopplethaler translates to Double Veriensthaler (2 Vereinthalers) D. In 1754 the monetary agreement between Austria and Bavaria in 1753 began the period of the Conventionsthaler, a Thaler set at 10 to equal one Cologne Mark of silver. Its weight was 28.0g with a fineness of 833.0. Over time this coin spread into a large portion of central and southern Germany. E. During 1755 the Kronenthaler is first issued in areas controlled by the Habsburgs, especially in the Netherlands and southern Germany. It had a weight of 29.44g and a fineness of 873.0. i. In the Holy Roman Empire, the Thaler was used as the standard against which the various states' currencies could be valued. One standard introduced by Prussia was the Reichsthaler, which contained one fourteenth of a Cologne mark of silver. When the German Empire came into being in 1871, 38 German States (of about 1800) still existed. When the German Empire was formed a new major currency emerged along with the new nation; the Mark. All minor coins and the silver 1 Mark were struck at government owned mints, but the 38 German States were given the right to authorize the issuing of silver coins in denominations of 2, 3, and 5 Mark plus gold coins of 10 and 20 Mark. These, too, had to be struck by a nearby government mint. The previous major currency was the Thaler, which was minted by the individual States' own mints or at neighboring German States' mints. The minor coinage of both major denominations consisted of Pfennig and multiples of Pfennigs. A few of the German States issued coins bearing the denomination Dreiling which translates to 3 Pfennigs. Many German States produced variable fractional Thalers of which a few German States (i.e. Prussia) denominated as Groshen and Silbergroshen. In Germany, the name Groschen (both singular and plural) replaced "schilling" as the common name for a 12 Pfennig coin. In the 18th Century it was used predominantly in the northern states as a coin worth 1/24 of a Reichsthaler (equal to 1/32 of a Conventionsthaler). In the 19th century, beginning in 1821 in Prussia, a new currency system was introduced in which the Groschen (often called the Silbergroschen or Neugroschen to distinguish it from older Groschen) was worth 1/30 of a Thaler (aka Taler). Following German unification and decimalization, the Groschen was replaced by the 10 Pfennig coin and Groschen remained a nickname for the 10 Pfennig coin until the introduction of the Euro. As we look at the Thaler Currencies of the German States we will visit each entity in alphabetical Order. We started with A for Anhalt-Bernberg. then went on to Anhalt-Kothen and progressed to Anhalt-Dessau, then back-tracked to Aachen. This posting stays with the letter A, but after setting things right in our quest of seeking out the Thaler Coinage issued by Pre Empire German States, we found ourselves face to face with the Thaler coinage of Altenburg.whose territories are depicted on this map by the color light, or pastel, blue: MAP OF ALTENBURG Altenburg became part of Sachsen (Saxon) just before issuing its own Thaler coinage including fractional Thalers and Groshen denominations, thus it is usually noted as Sachsen-Altenburg. However, Altenburg became a territorial part of a few different free states. Here are a few photos (courtesy of Coin Archives) of the coinage: This coin is a fractional 1/2 Reichsthaler dated 1606, the third year of Johann Phillip's leadership of Sachsen-Altenburg. Johann Phillip faces Friedrich on the obverse and Johann Wilhem faces Friedrich Wilhem II on the reverse: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1606 1/2 REICHSTHALER - JOHANN PHILLIP This special specimen's obverse places Johann Phillip, Friedrich, Johann Wilhem and Friedrich Wilhem II facing each other two by two The coin was produced in 1619 under Johann Phillip's leadership: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1619 REICHSTHALER - JOHANN PHILLIP The year 1622 saw the striking of a coin denominated Kreuzer under the leadership of Ferdinands II as a sort of trade coin: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1622 KREUZER - FERDINANDS II After Ferdinands II died in 1622 Johann Philipp became the leader of Sachsen-Altenburg and this Drier (Dreiling?) was issued: SACHEN-ALTENBURG 1622 DRIER - JOHANN PHILIPP This example of the Thaler coinage of Altenburg as Sachsen-Altenburg is a Reichsthaler issued in 1625 under the leadership of Johann Phillip. Reverse of coin commemorates Friedrich, Johann Wilhem and Friedrich Wilhem II: SACHEN-ALTENBURG 1625 REICHSTALER - COMMEMORATIVE An odd curiosity came about when this 1623 Thaler was minted: It bears allegiance to Dorothea Sophia von Sachsen-Altenburg bearing the reference "SOPH DV SAX." Some numismatic historians believe this coin was struck at the Quidlinburg Mint: SACHSEN- ALTENBURG 1623 THALER - SOPH DV SAX Another 1623 Thaler authorized by a different Altenburg German Free State which reads thusly Sachsen-Altenburg-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Nachbarn. The ruler? W ilhem SACHSEN-ALTENBURG-ANHALT, BRANDENBURG AND NACHBARN 1623 THALER - WILHEM Another issue by Sachsen-Altenburg-Anhalt, Brandeburg and Nachbarn but under the keadership of Friedrich Wilhem and believed to be minted by EFS-Coburg Mint: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG-ANHALT, BRANDENBURG AND NACHBARN 1644 THALER - FRIEDRICH WILHEM A Reichsthaler was struck by Sachen-Altenburg in 1650 under Friedrich Wilhem's leadership: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1659 REICHSTHALER - FRIEDRICH II This issue was authorized by Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Nachbarn under the leadership of Ernst del Fromme. It is a Thaler dated 1669 and probably struck by Gotha Mint. The obverse features Johannes Friedrich with Magdalena Sibylla von Sachsen-Weißenfels: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG-ANHALT, BRANDENBURG 1669 THALER The German Free State of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg issued a Reichsthaler in 1675 while under the reign of Ernst der Fromme: SACHEN-GOLTHA-ALTENBURG 1675 REICHSTHALER - ERNST DER FROMME Here's two 2/3 Thalers issued by Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg while under the leadership of Friedrich I. SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1678 2/3 THALER - FRIEDRICH I SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1679 2/3 THALER - FRIEDRICH I In 1689 the free German State of Saxon-Gotha-Altenburg, under the leadership of Freidrich I, struck a Thaler bearing Friedrich I on its obverse: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1689 THALER - FRIEDRICH I Here's one of the fractional Thalers denominated Groschen issued by Sachsen-Gothen-Altenburg bearing the date 1692 while the Free German State was ruled by Friedrich II: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1692 GROSCHEN - FRIEDRICH II Here's another Groschen minted in 1693: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1693 GROSCHEN - FRIEDRICH II Remember the sub-division of the Thaler is Pfennig? Here's a photo of a 1702 Pfennig issued by Sachen-Gotha-Altenburg under Friedrich II's reign: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1702 PFENNIG - FRIEDRICH II Another Pfennig was struck in 1708, but it doesn't bear Friedrich II's Monogram: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1708 PFENNIG - FRIEDRICH II Here's one of those fractional (1/4) Thalers. It bears a 1717 date: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1717 1/4 THALER - FRIEDRICH II Friedrich II ruled from 1691 through the first few months of 1732. Another <b><i>Groschen was issued in 1718 while Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg was under his watch: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1718 GROSCHEN - FRIEDRICH II This Pfennig, also bears the date 1718 and bears Friedruch II's Monogram:>br> SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1918 PFENNIG - FRIEDRICH II Under the leadership of Friedrich III, Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg issued a commemorative medal valued at a Thaler featuring the lineage of the ruling family (7 ancesters). The medal was authorized in 1723 and bears the cameo busts of the seven males in the family and is referred to as a Familienthaler: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1723 FAMILIENTHALER - FRIEDRICH III Wow! Are we lucky! Here's a photo of a 1755 8 Groschen piece. Listed as a 1/3 Thaler in Merseburger and a 1/4 Thaler in Whiting: SACHEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1755 8 GROSCHEN Under Friedrich II's leadership this 1764 1/24 Thaler was issued: SACGSEN=GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1764 1/24 THALER - FRIEDRICH III This photo presents us with a 1764 Thaler minted while under Friedrich III's leadership of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1764 THALER - FRIEDRICH III Another Thaler was authorized under Friedrich III's leadership bearing the full name "FINE MARK" instead "F. MARK" for its weight. Its value is Konv - Thaler Take a look: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG This coin is also dated 1764, but is a fractional (1/24) Thaler: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1764 1/24 THALER - FRIEDRICH III In 1773, under the leadership of Ernst II. Ludwig, Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg produced this 1/24 Thaler: SACHSEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1773 1/24 THALER - ERNST II. Ludwig Our next specimen from the Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg Thaler Coinage is this 1841 Thaler issued under the leadership of Joseph: SACHEN-GOTHA-ALTENBURG 1841 THALER - JOSEPH This denomination reads "Vereins 2 Thaler" which is referred to as Vereinsdopplethaler, but also bears the Thaler equivalent of 3 1/2 Gulden. Note that the "F. MARK" refers to the fine weight (one mark was roughly 240 grams), and this is one seventh of a mark. It was minted in 1847 under Joseph's leadership: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1867 VEREINSDOPPLETHALER - JOSEPH In 1852, under the leadership of Georg, Sachsen-Altenburg issued another Vereinsdopplethaler: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1852 VERIENSDOPPLETHALER - GEORG Our next coin photo offers our scrutiny of an 1869 Vereinsthaler struck under the leadership of Ernst I: SACHSEN-ALTENBURG 1869 VEREINSTHALER - ERNST I Hope you enjpyed this post. To be continued... Clinker
Clinker - thank you for this post. I hit a road block starting with the 1678 to the 1773. The links to the photos result in "error 404 file not found". At least the accompanying text you provided for those are available.
Sorry about that kangayou: They were working when I posted the article, but things may have changed at the Coin Archives site. Thank you for reading and commenting. It means so much to me... Clinker
