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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;talerman, post: 3299515, member: 89314&quot;]Catching up again</p><p><br /></p><p>1534&nbsp; Germany MUNSTER Anabaptist Rule (1534-36)&nbsp; 2 Taler</p><p><br /></p><p>After the suppression of the peasants&#039; revolt in German Peasants&#039;&nbsp; War (1524–1525), a forceful attempt to establish theocracy was made at Münster (1532-35).&nbsp; Initially led by radical Lutherans, they were pushed aside by more radical Anabaptists preaching the absolute equality of man in all matters including the distribution of wealth. Rebaptism became compulsory, the property of people who left the city was shared out with the poor and soon a proclamation was issued that all property was to be held in common.</p><p><br /></p><p>The city was then besieged by Franz von Waldeck, its expelled bishop. In April 1534 on Easter Sunday, one of the Anabaptist leaders, Jan Matthys, who had prophesied God&#039;s judgment to come on the wicked on that day, made a sally forth with only twelve followers, believing that he was a second Gideon, and was cut off with his entire band. He was killed, his head severed and placed on a pole for all in the city to see, and his genitals nailed to the city gate.</p><p><br /></p><p>The 25-year-old Jan van Leiden was subsequently recognized as Matthys&#039; religious and political successor, justifying his authority and actions by the receipt of visions from heaven. His authority grew, eventually proclaiming himself to be the successor of David and adopting royal regalia, honors and absolute power in the new &quot;Zion&quot;. There were at least three times as many women of marriageable age as men now in the town and he legalized polygamy and himself took sixteen wives. Meanwhile, most of the residents of Münster were starving as a result of the year-long siege.</p><p><br /></p><p>After lengthy resistance, the city was taken by the besiegers on June 24, 1535 and Jan van Leiden and several other prominent Anabaptist leaders were captured and imprisoned. In January 1536 Jan van Leiden, Bernhard Knipperdolling and one more prominent follower, Bernhard Krechting, were tortured and executed in the marketplace of Münster. Their bodies were exhibited in cages, which hung from the steeple of St. Lambert&#039;s Church. The bones were removed later, but the cages hang there still. (Source: Wikipedia)</p><p><br /></p><p>All this did not prevent the Anabaptists striking some high grade coins during their brief rule.&nbsp; The obverse legends on this 2 Taler are&nbsp; WE.NICHT.GEBORE.IS.VTH.DE.WAT.VN.GEIS&#039;.MAC.NICH (he who has not been baptised will not be saved) and in the circle */DAT.WOR./T.IS.FLEISCH/GE.WORDEN*/.VN.VANET*/.IN*VNS*/**/* (the word has become flesh and lives within us)</p><p>The reverse legends are</p><p>IN.GAEN.INT.RIKE.GADES.EIN.KININCK.VPREG.OV&#039;AL (God&#039;s empire with one king stands above all) with the inner legend: EIN.GODT.EIN.GELOVE.EIN.DOEPE* (one God,one faith,one baptism)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]873778[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]873779[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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