Thalers of the Pre Empire German States - Chapter 7 Our alphabetical route to the Thaler (aka Taler) coinage of the German States brings us to Ansbach. Ansback beginnings started in 748 with the establishnent of a Benedictine Monastery which attracted so many settlers and travelers that it grew into the town of Ansbach in 1221. This new city came under the rulership of the Oettingen counts until the Hohenzollern Burgraves of Nuremburg took it over in 1331. The Hohenzollerns made Ansbach the seat of their dynasty until they acquired the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1415. After Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg, died in 1440 the Franconian branch of the family was not politically united with the main Brandenburg line so they decided to remain independent as Brandenburg-Ansbach In 1792 Ansbach was annexed by the Hohenzollerns of Prussia. In 1796 the Duke of Zweibrücken, Maximilian Joseph, the future Bavarian king Max I. Joseph, was exiled to Ansbach after Zweibrücken had been taken by the French. In Ansbach Maximilian von Montgelas wrote an elaborate concept for the future political organization of Bavaria, which is known as the "Ansbacher Mémoire." In 1806 Prussia ceded Ansbach and the Fürstentum (Principality) of Ansbach to Bavaria in exchange for the Bavarian duchy of Berg. Here's a map (courtesy of Wikipedia) of Brandenburg-Ansbach's territories shown in light blue: NOTE: Markgrafschaft Brandenburg-Ansbach / Fürstentum Ansbach (translates to in English) Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach / Principality of Ansbach State of the Holy Roman Empire</b> 1398-1792 MAP SHOWING TERRITORIES OF BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH Brandenburg-Ansbach's coinage covers such denominations as: Dukat Groschen Karolin Konventionthaler Kreuzer Reichsthaler Thaler To keep it simple let's use the alphabetical list above (all coin photos courtesy of Coin Archives unless noted): DUKAT (DUCAT) Under Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander's leadership two different gold Dukats were issued in 1769: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1769 GOLD DUKAT - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER (DESIGN 1) BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1769 GOLD DUKAT - CHRISTIAN FRIERICH KARL ALEXANDER (DESIGN 2) GROSCHEN: Isn't this 1686 Groschen struck under Johann Friedrich's leadership interesting? BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1686 GROSCHEN - JOHANN FRIEDRICH KAROLIN: Here's a Karolin struck in 1734 while under under the leadership of Karl Wilhelm Friedrich: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1734 KAROLIN - KARL WILHELM FRIEDRICH KONVENTIONSTHALER: Here's a nice Konventionsthaler that was struck in 1765 featuring Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander on horseback: BRANDEMBURG-ANSBACH 1765 KONVENTIONSTHALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER May I present to you this 1777 Konventionsthaler authorized in Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander's third year of leadership: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1777 KONVENTIONSTHALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER Two years later (1779) Christian Freidrich Karl Alexander's bust adorned this Konventiondthaler: BRADENBURG-ANSBACK 1779 KONVENTIONSTHALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER Compare that Konventionsthaler of 1779 to this 1779 specimen: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1779 KONVENTIONSTHALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER Now compare the size of the reverse devices on this Konventionsthaler struck in 1793 to that last 1779 shown above: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1783 KONVENTIONSTHALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER KREUZER: While Wilhelm Friedrich led Brandenburg-Ansbach through his leadership which lasted 20 years, this 4 Kreuzer was minted in 1715: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACK 1715 4 KREUZER - WILHELM FRIEDRICH Under Karl Wilhelm Friedrich's watch this 1754 silver 30 Kreuzer was minted: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1754 SILVER 30 KREUZER This 2 Kreuzer coin (token?) was minted in 1764 and you probably never knew it was part of the Thaler coinage of the German State Brandenburg-Ansbach: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1764 2 KREUZER Herer's a 1 Kreuzer coin minted in 1802 bearing the mint mark "B": BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1892-B 1 KREUZER REICHSTHALER: This 1629 Reichsthaler featuring Friedrich, Albert and Christian on the reverse would look good in any Thaler Collection. Look and see if you agree: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1629 REICHSTHALER - FRIEDRICH, ALBERT AND CHRISTIAN Here's a 1757 Reichsthaler minted during the first year of Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander's leadership: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1757 REICHSTHALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER THALER: In the second year (1730) of Karl Wilhelm Friedrich's leadership, this Thaler was minted as a circulating commrmorative honoring the 200th anniversary of the Augsburger Konfession: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1730 THALER - KARL WILHELM FRIEDRICH During Alexander's 28TH year of leadership, this Thaler was struck in 1779: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1779 THALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER FRACTIONAL THALERS: Ian 1677 Brandenburg-Ansback struck this 1677 1/3 Thaler while ubder the leadership of Johann Friedrich who ruled from 1667-1686: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1677 2/3 THALER - JOHANN FRIEDRICH A few years after Sayn-Altenkirchen became part of Brandenburg-Ansbach in the the 43rd year of Karl Wilhelm Friederuck's leadership this 1/6 Thaler graced the pockets of its citizens: Take a good look at this 1726 1/2 Reichsthaler struck under Karl Wilhelm Friedrich's leadership. It features Christiane Charlotte on its obverse. Nice right? BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1726 SILVER 1/2 REUCHSTHALER - KARL WILHELM FRIEDRICH (CHRISTIAN CHARLOTTE) BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1755 1/6 THALER -KARL WILHELM FRIEDRICH This 1/4 Thaler was produced in 1765 featuring Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander on horseback: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH AND NACHBARN 1765 1.4 THALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER Alexander isn't aboard a horse on this 1775 1/4 Thaler: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1775 1/4 THALER - CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH KARL ALEXANDER Nor is he astride his mount on this 1775 1/2 Konventionsthaler: BRANDENBURG-ANSBACH 1775 SILVER KONVENTIONSTHALER Hope you enjoyed. To be Continued... Clinker
Sure enjoyed your post! But let's make the story a little juicier. Well, actually Karl Alexander sold "his" principalities of Ansbach and Bayreuth to Prussia, in a secret contract. He apparently got quite a bit of money for it (an annual payment of 300,000 gulden), which allowed him to marry his lover Elizabeth Craven and move to Britain with her ... That involved another party so to say. Prussia had to cede Ansbach to Bavaria because Bavaria had just ceded the Duchy of Berg to France. (Napoleon then merged Berg with other territories and made it a grand duchy.) The 1686 groschen, by the way was issued to commorate Johann Friedrich's death. Guess that is why it has so much text ... Christian
To chrisild: Another pertinent and welcomed addition, THANKS! To mat: Once again, thanks for reading and commenting. Clinker
