TRIVIA: Thalers of the Pre Empire German States Epiusode 3 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) referred to as Groshen and Silbergroshen. 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. This posting stays with the letter A, but it now stands for Anhalt-Dessau whose territories are depicted on this map by the color orange: NOTE: Anhalt-Dessau became a duchy in 1807. MAP OF ANHALT-DESSAU Ready to see photos of Anhalt-Dessau's Thalers? (All photos courtesy of Coin Archives unless noted): This piece is a silver Vereinsdopplethaler minted in 1843 by the Berlin Mint for Anhalt-Dessau while under the leadership of Duke Leopold Friedrich: ANHALT-DESSAU 1843-A SILVER VEREINSDOPPLETHALER -DUKE LEOPOLD FRIEDRICH This is an 1846 Dopplethaler minted for Anhalt-Dessau struck by the Berlin Mint (mintmark A) while under the leadership of Duke Leopold Friedrich: ANHALT-DESSAU 1846 SILVER DOPPLETHALER - DUKE LEOPOLD FRIEDRICH NOTE: Duke Leopold Friedrich ruled Anhalt-Dessau from 1817 until 1871. Here's two more Thaler Coins issued under his leadership: ANHALT-DESSAU 1863-A SILVER VERIENSTHALER - DUKE LEOPOLD FRIEDRICH ANHALT-DESSAU 1866-A SILVER VERIENSTHALER - DUKE LEOPOLD FRIEDRICH Hope you enjoyed this post. To be continued... Clinker
Thanks, Clinker! Don't know much about those older coins, but why not learn something new ... Besides, some of these pieces are beautifully designed. What I find interesting about those coins issued after the 1837-38 coinage conventions of Munich and Dresden is the "double denomination": The Vereinsdoppeltaler was 2 Thaler and at the same time 3 1/2 Gulden. The "F. MARK" refers to the fine weight (one mark was roughly 240 grams), and this is one seventh of a mark. The 1863 thaler commemorates the unification of Anhalt ("divided in 1603, united in 1863" according to the inscription) ... Christian
