Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 7513174, member: 110226&quot;]The coinage that we collect is often filled with symbolism, reflecting the times in which they were produced.&nbsp; The &quot;Willow Thaler&quot; of Hesse-Kassel is one such example.</p><p><br /></p><p>Hesse-Kassel, 1618, within the Holy Roman Empire.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1298070[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Wilhelm V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (1627-1637), ascended to his throne in the midst of one of Europe&#039;s bloodiest conflicts, The Thirty Years War (1618-1648), with the landgraviate in a state of financial crisis.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1298009[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>One of his first orders of business was to stabilize the coinage, which, under &quot;Kipper und Wipper&quot; (German: Kipper- und Wipperzeit, literally &quot;Tipper and See-saw time&quot;) became highly debased as a result of the financial crisis brought about the conflict.&nbsp; Part of this effort to restore the coinage of Hesse-Kassel was the issuance of a series of thalers from 1629 to 1635.&nbsp; Because of the depiction of the willow tree on the reverse, these thalers became known as willow (weidenbaum) or storm thalers.&nbsp; These thalers continued to be struck following his reign.</p><p><br /></p><p>The willow tree on the reverse is bending from the winds and lightening of war.&nbsp; At the same time the sun rays of Jehovah are descending on it.&nbsp; This is a reference, I believe, to Hesse-Kassel&#039;s endurance of the vicissitudes brought about by the war, with the benediction of God.&nbsp; Given the religious overlay to the conflict, this sort of symbolism is not unusual for that time, and can be found on other coinage.</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse:&nbsp; Hessian arms in 5-fold oval.&nbsp; The date 1630 in the upper fields and a TS monogram in the lower right field.</p><p>Legend:&nbsp;&nbsp; WILHELMIIS.D:G:LANDGRAVIIS.HASSIAE.COM:IN C D:Z:E:N</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse:&nbsp; Willow tree a in storm, town in background., Jehovah and rays above.</p><p>Legend:&nbsp;&nbsp; DEO VOLENTE HUMILIS LEVABOR</p><p><br /></p><p>KM 115</p><p><br /></p><p>28.8 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>From Worldwide Coins of California, late 1980s.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1298010[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>In 1635 Wilhelm V formed an alliance with France against the Empire, which prompted an invasion by the Imperial forces and creating another financial crisis.&nbsp; Subsequently, he was declared an an &quot;enemy of the Empire&quot; and replaced by his cousin George to administer the estates.&nbsp; In the end Wilhelm was forced to escape from Hesse-Kassel, dying in exile in 1637 as the landgraviate came under military occupation.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in