German monetary history before 1871
Even with the coins of the Middle Ages , a barely manageable variety had developed in Germany . To remedy or alleviate these conditions, agreements between individual cities (such as the Wendish Coin Association ) for the standardization and mutual recognition of currencies had already been made in the late Middle Ages . In the 16th century, the Imperial Coin Regulations tried , sometimes in vain, to bring order to the “coin confusion”. Coin treaties , such as the Zinna Coin Treaty in 1667 and the Bavarian-Austrian Coin Convention of 1753 , brought about regional improvements . Most countries issued their own coins by 1871, sometimes until 1873.
Overview
German coinage has long been rooted in the Carolingian coin system . The initially uniform denarius or penny of the Carolingians, minted in silver, gave way to more and more " regional pennies " with different weights since the 12th century . This was a result of the fragmentation of under Charlemagne uniformly applied, royal mint coins (coin shelf ).
In addition to the need for parts of the pfennig, the expansion of the money economy in the late Middle Ages led to the need for multiple pfennigs. Typical coin names were:
- Heller : initially a whole, from 1385 half a penny from Swabia ( Schwäbisch Hall )
- Scherf : also half a pfennig, partly by dividing a pfennig coin ( Erfurt , other cities)
- Albus : silver-containing (white!) Denarius / pfennig, starting from Trier and Cologne from the middle of the 13th century
- Schwaren : heavy (= silver-containing) pfennigs from north-west Germany; later copper coin
- Rappen : dark pfennig coin from the 13th century with an initially 0.15 g silver content (see also Rappenmünzbund )
- Deut : copper coin worth 2 pfennigs (17th and 18th centuries; north-west Germany, the Netherlands )
- Witten : four pfennig coin lightened by white boiling in northern Germany (from the early 14th century; Wendischer Münzverein )
- Dreiling , Sechsling : triple or sixfold pfennigs (¼ and ½ schilling ; Northern Germany from the 14th century)
A special form of the multiple pfennig was the groschen of 12 pfennigs, ie the nominal value of the Carolingian solidus or shilling, which had not been pronounced until then . The model Turnose ( grossus denarius Turonus ) referred to a French black pfennig in the middle of the 13th century, which contained very little silver. From the penny u. a. from: the Kreuzgroschen, which later contracted to " Kreuzer ", the Groten and the Stüber .
Gold coins are known u. a. the Rhenish guilder , various ducats , various pistols such as the Friedrich d'or and the Hamburg Portugalöser . At the beginning of the 19th century only Bremen had a gold standard.
Coin material
From the Middle Ages to modern times, only the metals gold , silver and copper were permitted for coin alloys in the area of the Holy Roman Empire . The material of gold and silver coins usually consisted of alloys of the two precious metals with copper.
With the beginning of the 17th century, silver alloys, some of which had significantly less than 50% silver, were increasingly used for small divisional coins such as pfennigs, cruisers, half- Batzen , groschen and schilling. see the coin alloy billon . Brass and bronze alloys were used up to about the first third of the 19th century for calculating pennies, tokens, other brands (food, receipts for payments, etc.) and for medals , and later also for small coins. In the 19th century, almost all pfennig coins were made of pure copper. The large silver divide coins at the end of the 19th century were an exception. This applies in particular to the pennies of the mark currency of the German Reich ( 900 ⁄ 1000 fine) and the small coins of the Austrian gold crown currency ( 835 ⁄ 1000 fine).
The silver content of coins was traditionally given in Lot (also Loth) (sixteenth) and Grän ( 1 ⁄ 18 of a Lot). Carat was the indication for the gold content. A coin made of 15- solder silver, for example, had a fineness of 937.5 ⁄ 1000 . After the basic unit of German minting was changed from the Cologne mark of 16 lots (233.8 g) to the inch pound of 500 g in 1856, the fineness was also increasingly given in parts per thousand.
Money and coinage
Introduction of the Reichstaler (1566)
The Reichstaler was created with the Reichsmünzordnung of 1566 and soon became Germany's main currency coin . 9 Reichstalers ( 9 Taler feet ) were to be minted from the Cologne Mark of Fine Silver . The Reichstaler weighed 29.23 g roughly . With a fineness of 889 ⁄ 1000 , the fine weight of a Reichstaler was 25.98 g.
The majority of the Reichstaler were coined by the Wettins ( Saxony ) and Welfen ( Braunschweig , Lüneburg ). The Reichstaler soon prevailed over the Gulden and Guldiner , even if the Gulden was still used in southern Germany.
At the same time, cruisers were widely used as small silver coins . The value of the Reichstaler was initially set at 68 cruisers. However, the fineness of the small coins decreased in the period that followed. The value of the Reichstaler soon rose to 72 and finally to 90 Kreuzer.
Finally, the Reichstaler itself was no longer minted strictly according to the 9 thaler foot; the fineness of the Reichstaler in circulation sank and could no longer serve as a standard of value. In order to alleviate this problem, the idea of the bill thaler was born : its coin base remained defined by the imperial coinage order, even if it was no longer expressed in this form. In northern Germany, a value ratio of 1 Reichstaler / Billstaler = 24 Groschen or 36 Mariengroschen prevailed at times .
Zinna Coin Treaty (1667/68)
In the 17th century it became clear that the original 9-thaler foot could no longer be maintained in the face of proliferating, deviating coin systems. The emerging coin systems not only deviated from the regulations of the Imperial Coin Order, but also differed from one another. To counter this situation, Kurbrandenburg and the Electorate of Saxony signed the Zinna Coin Treaty (1667), which the Duchy of Braunschweig-Lüneburg also joined the following year . The Zinnaer Münzfuß , d. H. a 10 1 ⁄ 2 thaler foot, which was used from 1668 for the coinage of the contracting parties.
Leipzig Coin Convention (1690)
However, there were further deteriorations in the coin; the inferior thalers also replaced those according to the Zinna foot ( Gresham's law ). The electorate of Brandenburg , which was poor in silver , had already minted the new two-thirds thaler (gulden) from the fine mark in 18 pieces since 1687 . This corresponds to a 12 thaler coin footer. There were also ⅙ and ⅓ thalers after the 12 thaler foot. The parties to the Zinna Mint Agreement therefore met again and in 1690 in Leipzig adopted a new coin convention based on this 12 thaler foot. The coinage according to the so-called " Leipziger Münzfuß " spread not only in the silver-rich Saxony and Braunschweig-Lüneburg, but almost all over Germany.
Graumann's coin reform in Prussia (1750)
In the middle of the 18th century, many states could hardly afford the minting of the new two-thirds thalers after the Leipzig standard. Again, Prussia, which emerged from Brandenburg, led the way with a redefinition of the monetary standard. The Prussian general mint director Johann Philipp Graumann developed a 14 thaler foot, which was the basis of Prussian minting until the 19th century. According to this, 14 Reichstaler were to be struck from the Cologne mark of fine silver (233.856 g) ( Graumann coin footer ).
Friedrich II had the designation "Reichstaler" struck on the new coins. The coin contained 16.704 g of fine silver and in fact remained the Prussian currency coin until 1907.
This “Prussian Taler” was initially divided into 24 good groschen or 288 pfennigs. In 1821 there was a reform of the coinage: 1 Taler after Graumann's foot was now 30 pence or 360 Pfenni n g divided.
In the 18th century, the Graumann foot was widespread practically all over northern and central Germany. With a slight deviation (see the Vienna Mint Treaty), this coin base remained in Germany until 1907 in the form of the simple taler coins with a face value of three marks that had been in circulation until then. The Prussian Reichstaler served as a model for the creation of the last German and Austrian Taler, the Association Thaler of the German Customs Union (see below).
Conventional Foot (1750)
Austria resisted the trend towards less and less valuable “Reichstalers”. In 1750 it introduced a twenty gulden foot , 10 thalers should be minted from the Cologne mark. After this coinage rate, all coins should be paid out up to the penny.
Based on an agreement with Bavaria from September 1753, the coin foot and the thaler ( convention thaler ) minted after it were named. Because of the disproportionate assessment of the small coins in circulation in southern Germany, Bavaria rated the Konventionstaler with 144 Kreuzers instead of 120 Kreuzers a year later. In this modified form (actually a 24 guilder foot), the (lighter) convention mint foot spread across southern and western Germany. Central German and some north German mint stands (Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, Hildesheim, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Oldenburg) also took over it. In practice, the convention mint was adopted in large parts of the Reich, with the exception of Prussia, where the Graumann mint was used, as well as the minting district of the Hanseatic cities (Bremen, Hamburg, Lübeck), Schleswig-Holstein and parts of Mecklenburg.
Munich (1837) and Dresden (1838) coinage agreement
In the Munich Mint Treaty of 1837 , the member states of the German Customs Union , united in the South German Mint Association , had their monetary base (24½ gulden feet) in a clear relation (1¾: 1) to the monetary base of the Prussian thaler (14 thaler feet) and at the same time uniform everywhere Current 3 and 6 Kreuzer divide coins made of a billon alloy were introduced. At the Mint Congress in Dresden in 1838, this created the prerequisite for the creation of a joint Kurant coin as a club coin for all Zollverein members a year later .
From the Prussian fine mark 7 pieces of the club coin were struck, each worth 2 talers (north German) = 3½ gulden (south German) . This common club coin had to be minted according to uniform guidelines and was valid in all contracting countries. With a fineness of 900 ⁄ 1000, the coin weighed around 37.11 g, contained 33.408 g of silver and measured 41 mm in diameter. This coin, valued at 2 thalers or 3½ gulden, was of considerable value and, because of its low number, hardly played a role in actual payment transactions. This club coin had more of a symbolic value. It was called "Champagnertaler" by the population because it is said to have been roughly the value of a bottle of champagne. The club thaler as a one-thaler coin, on the other hand, became more and more popular. In the end, it also dominated the currency in circulation in the guilder area.
Another result of the contract was the since January 1, 1841 officially taking place transition Saxony to the Prussian 14-dollars-foot (1 Taler = 30 Neugroschen ;. 1 Neugroschen = 10 (new) penny) in most countries remained the duodecimal division ( to 12 Pfenning or Pfennig).
All German states gradually joined the Dresden Coin Treaty, with the exception of the Hanseatic cities of Bremen , Schleswig-Holstein , Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Mecklenburg-Schwerin . Nevertheless, the two Mecklenburgs took over the Prussian 14 thaler foot in 1848. In Hamburg and Lübeck , the Prussian thaler became the main circulation coin in the middle of the 19th century, which led to its official legalization in 1856.
In addition, the coin agreement provided for the exchange of divisional coins for full curant money. However, this was only valid from a certain amount of coins. The other way around, however, nobody needed to accept divorce money up to the face value of the smallest Kurant coin, for example in Prussia up to the ⅙ thaler piece. Worn coins had to be taken back from the minting country at their full market value. During this time, Prussia and many other states introduced a mandatory rate for (state) banknotes within the total debt amount for (tax) payments to the state by private and commercial customers , which was intended to force the introduction of certain types of paper money in the public because of the national debt. Otherwise, a fine of the order of 1 groschen per thaler was due, although Kurant coins were actually unlimited means of payment.
Vienna Mint Treaty (1857)
Treaty concluded on January 24, 1857 between the German Customs Union States , the Austrian Empire and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
After the revolution of 1848 the currency relations in Austria were completely shattered. There were hardly any gold or silver coins in circulation, and these were practically only used for foreign trade. The copper coins could not meet the daily payment needs. Foreign types of coin were used without being clear about their value. Wages were paid in paper money. If you wanted to exchange silver or gold coins, you had to expect a discount of 25%. Trade between Austria and the other German states was severely affected. That is why the Austrian finance minister pushed for a currency reform and hoped for support from the other countries.
In the subsequent treaty negotiations, Austria and some German states wanted a gold currency. With the discovery of new gold deposits in the USA and Australia , sufficient gold was available at low prices. Austria hoped to be able to pay for its return from paper to metal currency more easily with the help of gold inflation. But the Kingdom of Prussia insisted on the silver standard and thus prevailed at the Congress of Vienna . Reasons, in addition to Prussia's claim to leadership, were the sufficient production volumes of the German silver mines and allegedly lower price fluctuations in the silver value. It was ignored that with the increasing trade gold coins offered significant advantages and the minting costs of silver coins (approx. 4.2 pfennigs for 1 taler) are about four times higher than for gold coins.
Article 3 of the Coin Treaty regulates which countries will introduce one of the three following silver currencies:
- "Thaler currency" in 30 thaler feet
- "South German currency" in 52½ guilder feet
- "Austrian currency" in 45 guilder feet
With the contract, the Cologne mark at 233.8555 g was replaced by the customs pound at 500 g as the common coin weight. This was a step towards the decimal system, but the coin system was not converted to the decimal system.
Club thaler
In order to secure payment transactions between the countries with thaler currency on the one hand and guilder currency on the other, the following two taler pieces with a uniform design should be minted as main currency coins in accordance with Article 8 of the Coin Agreement (see also Vereinstaler ):
- Two Club Thaler = 3½ South German. Gulden = 3 Austrian gulden
- Ein-Vereinstaler = 1¾ Süddt. Gulden (= 105 Kreuzer) = 1½ Austrian. Gulden (= 150 new cruisers)
The silver value of the new club coins decreased by 0.22% compared to the Dresden Mint Agreement of 1839. Nevertheless, it was agreed in Articles 4 and 9 of the coin agreement that the old thalers and the new club thalers are to be treated as coins of equal value in payment transactions. However, only the new coins were allowed to be minted. For all Reichstaler before 1839 took place October 31, 1858, the demonetization .
| Main coin | Contract of | Weight | Fineness | Fine weight | diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 club thalers | 1839 | 37.120 g | 900 ‰ | 33,408 g | 41 mm |
| 2 club thalers | 1857 | 37.037 g | 900 ‰ | 33.333 g | 41 mm |
| 1 thaler | 1839 | 22.272 g | 750 ‰ | 16,704 g | 34 mm |
| 1 club thaler | 1857 | 18.519 g | 900 ‰ | 16.667 g | 33 mm |
The governments undertook to adhere to the new standard. In the event of weight loss due to circulation of more than 2%, the states had to collect their own club thalers.
The number of copies of the two-club thalers (double thalers) was left to the states. Due to the bad experience with the earlier double thaler of the Dresden coinage treaty, most of the states now waived the minting of the new two-thaler piece or used the nominal as a commemorative coin. While 24.5 million double club thalers were minted in Germany from 1839 to 1856, from 1857 to 1871 it was only 7.5 million including commemorative coins.
| countries | Edition in pieces | Embossing period |
|---|---|---|
| Free City of Frankfurt | 3,109,331 | 1860-1862, 1866 |
| Kgr. Saxony | 1,857,351 | 1857-1859, 1861, 1872 |
| Kgr. Prussia | 1,565,203 | 1858-1859, 1861-1863, 1865-1871 |
| Kgr.Bavaria | 783.263 | 1859-1865, 1867, 1869 |
| Kgr. Hanover | 170,926 | 1862, 1866 |
| Empire of Austria | 27,764 | 1857, 1865-1867 |
| Kgr. Württemberg | 9,748 | 1869, 1871 |
| Fsm. Schaumburg-Lippe | 2,000 | 1857 |
| Hzm. Nassau | ? | 1860 |
Only for the one-Vereinstaler was in accordance with Article 11 of the Vienna Münzvertrages an embossing duty from 1857 to 1862 of at least 24 pieces Vereinstaler per 100 population in each state and thereafter within 4 years 16 per 100 inhabitants. With almost 218 million pieces, significantly more one-club thalers were actually minted from 1857 to 1871 than the 56 million pieces from 1839 to 1856 under the Dresden Mint Treaty. With the exception of the cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Lübeck, all states took part in the coinage of the Vereinstaler.
In Kgr. Sachsen, Kgr. Prussia and Hzm. Anhalt, exploitation thalers were also minted in 30 thalers feet.
Landeskurantmünzen
In addition to the main coins , parts of the taler could also be minted as regional curant coins . With this permit, however, they were not automatically means of payment in all contracting states, but required the respective approval.
According to Article 4 of the Coin Agreement, the smallest permissible pieces were the sixth thaler in the 30 thaler foot and the quarter gulden in the 52½ and 45 guilder feet. The sixth thaler and the quarter gulden (minted only in Austria) were equivalent coins with a rough weight of 5.342 g made of 520 ‰ silver, i.e. 2.778 g of fine silver. For this reason, both parts were probably allowed as a means of payment in all countries.
The pieces with a total value of only around 6.3 million thalers were minted in Germany as:
- Third Thaler (only Kgr. Sachsen)
- Sixths of a thaler (Kgr.Saxony, Kgr.Prussia, Kgr.Hannover, Hzm. Anhalt, Hzm. Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)
- Gulden (Kgr.Bavaria, Kgr.Württemberg, Ghzm. Baden, Free City of Frankfurt)
- Half-Gulden (Kgr.Bavaria, Kgr.Wurttemberg, Ghzm. Baden, Hzm. Nassau, Free City of Frankfurt)
Divisional coins
According to Article 14 of the Coin Treaty of January 24, 1857, the federal states were able to mint coins made of silver or copper in a lighter coin base for small payment transactions, while observing various requirements:
- the mint must contain the designation "Scheidemünze"
- the nominal value of silver coins may not be greater than half of the smallest part of the Kurant (i.e. less than 7.5 southern German cruisers or 2.5 groschen); it must be expressed in at least 34½ thaler feet, 60⅜ southern German guilder feet or 51¾ Austrian guilder feet
- the nominal value of copper coins may not be higher than 6 or 5 pfennigs or pfennings or 2 kreuzers; The coins minted from a hundredweight inch of copper may not be worth more than 112 thalers or 168 Austrian guilders or 196 southern German guilders
- only as many coins may be minted as are absolutely necessary in one's own country; Any further quantities from earlier issues are to be withdrawn
- Nobody should be compelled to accept payments from the value of the smallest Kurant coin in volatile coins
- Dividing coins made of silver with a value of 20 thalers or 40 guilders and those made of copper with a value of 5 thalers or 10 guilders must be exchanged for Kurant coins
The different counting methods in the states were not eliminated. For example, the Vereinstaler was divided into:
| Prussia and other northern German states | 30 silver groschen | 360 pfennigs |
| Saxony, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Gotha | 30 new pennies | 300 pfennigs |
| Countries of the South German Mint Association | 105 cruisers | 420 pfennigs |
Some of these cutting coins were still a means of payment in the German Empire until 1878.
Trade association coin crown
A new club gold coin was introduced to promote trade with foreign countries - there was no obligation to accept it domestically . In the search for the name for the new gold coin, Jacob Grimm was first asked for help, who suggested "Goldling" based on the word "Silberling" from Martin Luther. But the decision was made to give the new coin an unmistakable look with the oak wreath. The Latin name for the oak wreath was "Corona civica" and thus the German name of the coin was "Krone". With the club crown, the gold coins were designed uniformly for the first time in the member states without exception. They differed only in the head portrait with title inscription of the respective ruler and various marginal inscriptions.
The club's crown had no fixed value relation to the silver currency. The price resulted mainly from the value ratio of 1 g gold = 15.361 g silver at the time:
1 club crown = around 9 club thalers = 15 guilders 54 kreuzers.
The previously existing gold coins ducats and pistols were banned in the contracting countries. Only Austria was granted an exception for ducat minting in Article 18 of the Coin Treaty, limited until 1865. The Kingdom of Saxony continued to issue the Sophiendukat as a commemorative coin. As a non-member of the Münzverein, Hamburg still minted the ducat annually until 1872. Only six states participated in the formation of the club's crown (editions in pieces):
| countries | Embossing period | 1 crown | ½ crown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire of Austria | 1858-1866 | 89,730 | 794.523 |
| Kgr. Hanover | 1857-1866 | 774.141 | 20,103 |
| Kgr. Prussia | 1858-1870 | 212.269 | 132,445 |
| Kgr. Saxony | 1857-1871 | 49,600 | 14,278 |
| Kgr.Bavaria | 1857-1869 | 1,851 | 4.018 |
| Hzm. Braunschweig | 1858-1859 | 45,298 | 0 |
| All in all | 1,172,889 | 965,367 |
Many of the club crowns that were issued flowed either abroad or to the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, because a gold currency still existed there. The displacement of gold from Germany in connection with the outflow of silver to Asia opened the gates for paper money. When the club's crown was suspended with the introduction of the gold mark, only 332,091 gold coins were redeemed.
With the dissolution of the German Confederation after the German War in 1866, Austria and Liechtenstein left the Münzverein with the dissolution treaty of June 13, 1867, effective from January 1, 1868. The expression of the club crown and club thaler was discontinued in Austria. The Vereinstaler remained a means of payment. It was not until February 20, 1892, that the German Reich and Austria-Hungary concluded an agreement on their further use. From 1892 to 1894, Austrian club thalers and club double thalers worth almost 9 million thalers from the holdings of the German Reichsbank were to be transported to Vienna and melted down in the main mint. For a thaler 1½ Austrian. Guilders paid. Thereafter, the suspension in the German Reich should take place; Austria-Hungary was given the option of timing.
With an ordinance of April 12, 1893, the Austrian finance minister suspended the club thaler and club double thaler on June 1, 1893. You could still until the end of May 1893 against 1½ or 3 Austrian. Guilders can be exchanged. With the "Law on the Austrian Club Thaler" of February 28, 1892, "the suspension of the Club Thaler and the Club Double Thaler, which had been struck in Austria until the end of 1867, was redeemed on the account of the Reich at the value ratio of three marks one Thaler ”.
However, it was not until January 1, 1901, according to the Reich Chancellor's announcement of November 8, 1900, that the “Vereinsthaler Austrian stamps were suspended”. The exchange could take place until March 31, 1901 for three marks. Due to this time difference of 8 years, the Austrian club thalers were still in circulation in Germany in large quantities. If this thaler was exchanged for 3 gold marks, it was a lucrative business; because the silver value at that time was only 1.50 marks. For the German Reich it was a considerable loss. In 1907 the German club thaler ended.
In northern Germany, the Vienna Mint Treaty was consistently implemented. No other state coins were accepted at public coffers. However, there were quarter gulden pieces in circulation, which corresponded to a sixth thaler. In addition, earlier third thalers or 8 Groeschers from Poland were circulating.
In southern Germany, even after the Vienna Coin Treaty, it was not possible to regulate the coinage. Not only were all national coins accepted as a means of payment, but also convention money, crown thalers and French money, especially 5-franc pieces.
In the 1860s the demands for the abolition of the club crown and for the introduction of a new gold coin and a gold currency increased. A 10-mark gold coin of 10 groschen was required. This would be similar to the English semi- sovereign gold coin , which is recognized on the world market. In 1871 the time had come.
Coin history of individual territories
Overview - Coins of German Territories 1813
After the liberation from Napoleonic rule in 1813, the conditions that had existed until 1806 were restored almost everywhere.
| Coin area | coin | Equivalent in |
|---|---|---|
| Hessen-Kassel | A conventional thaler | 5 francs 18 cents |
| A thaler for 24 groschen | 3 francs 88 cents | |
| One guilder | 2 francs 59 cents | |
| Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel | A special thaler for 32 Gutegroschen | 5 francs 18 cents |
| A convention thaler for 16 good groschen | 2 francs 59 cents | |
| A two piece of Mariengroschen (1 Gutegroschen 4 pfennigs) |
21 centimes | |
|
Electorate of Braunschweig-Lüneburg "Kurhannover" |
A speciestaler 48 Mariengroschen 32 good groschen |
5 francs 75 cents |
| A two piece of Mariengroschen (1 Gutegroschen 4 pfennigs) |
23 cents | |
| Prussia | A thaler for 24 groschen | 3 francs 70 cents |
| One gulden at 16 groschen | 2 francs 46 cents | |
| Hamburg | A Reichstaler Banco in silver | 5 francs 82 cents |
| A Mark Lübisch | 1 franc 52 cents | |
| In old imperial coin | A convention or Reichstaler | 5 francs 18 cents |
| A heavy guilder | 2 francs 59 cents | |
| A 20 Kreuzer piece of 2 ⁄ 5 Rhenish guilders |
86 cents |
Kingdom of Hanover
In the Electorate of Braunschweig-Lüneburg (colloquially Kurhannover) the thaler was the national currency in 1813, which was divided into 24 Gutegroschen of twelve pfennigs each or 36 Mariengroschen of eight pfennigs each. The large two-thirds thaler piece corresponded to 16 Gutegroschen or 24 Mariengroschen. The coin was also called the guilder, and since 18 of these guilders were equal to 12 thalers, it was also called the 18 guilder foot. This so-called cash money was used in Hanover for payments to the public cash registers, i.e. also to the post office, as the basis for the calculation.
The smallest fully-fledged silver coin was one-twelfth thaler, also known as 2 Gutegroschen or 3 Mariengroschen. Coins of lesser value were made of inferior alloy or copper. You didn't have to accept them in large quantities, they were only used to offset payments up to one-twelfth thaler piece. Such dividing coins in Hanover were a twenty-fourth thaler = a groschen, a Mariengroschen and four pfennigs as well as a mattier (Matthiasgroschen) or half a Mariengroschen made of silver and two or one pfennig pieces made of copper.
The gold coins had no fixed relationship to the silver coins. The price of these so-called trading coins was based on the respective gold price . A ducat (minted until 1831) corresponded to around 2 talers and 17 groschen in 1813. They were replaced by “ pistols ”, which were originally worth 5 thalers and in 1813 were worth 4 thalers and 20 groschen.
In addition to the coins minted in the country, a wide variety of coins of "foreign coinage" were in circulation.
In addition, there were the coins from the newly added territories, which of course also had their own currencies. In East Frisia, the Prussian Courant was valid , in which 14 thalers (21 guilders) were minted from a silver mark . The Stüber was used as a dividing coin based on the Dutch model . In Hildesheim the Prussian Courant was also valid, in Emsland the convention money, and in the Grafschaft Bentheim one calculated in Dutch money. The colorful juxtaposition (18, 20, and 21 guilder feet) was regulated by a series of ordinances.
November 1, 1817
With effect from November 1, 1817, the Kingdom of Hanover took over the convention foot, after the 20 guilder foot, as a national coin. Something like that didn't happen overnight. Convention coins had been minted since 1816. The old one-twelfth thaler pieces were by no means restricted, they were still minted with the image of the respective king until 1839.
Again, the two-thirds thaler piece with the horse on the obverse was the largest coin with the denomination "16 good groschen". The "fair convention coin of foreign sovereigns, on which the inscription shows how much of the mark is finely minted" were equally respected . Specifically, Brunswick, Saxon and Hessian coins are listed.
Since January 1, 1818, the calculation of Mariengroschen changed to Gutegroschen at 12 pfennigs. The silver dividing coins of the cash money were equated with the convention money, the copper coins remained unchanged. With a few specifically named exceptions, the “foreign” dividing coin was forbidden in the kingdom.
The value of the gold coins was redefined. The ducat now corresponded to one thaler 23 Gutegroschen 1 Pfg. Convention coin. the pistol 5 thalers, 4 groschen and 5 pfennigs.
1834 to 1857
The Coin Act of April 8, 1834, which came into force on July 1, 1834, announced the adaptation of Hanover's monetary system to that of neighboring countries by adopting the (Prussian) 14 thaler foot.
The main silver coins, the taler, were minted from 12-lot silver, 25% copper according to today's calculations, or from fine silver. In both cases they bore the indication “XIV a fine mark” , that is to say: 14 thalers were minted from one mark of fine silver. The division of the taler into 24 groschen of 12 pfennigs each was retained. In addition to the taler, there was the ⅙ thaler and the 1 ⁄ 12 thaler (two good groschen). All together they were called Courant coins. In addition to its own thaler coins, the acceptance of Prussian thaler coins was permitted, but not the smaller values.
Gutegroschen, six- and four-pfennig pieces in silver and two- and one-pfennig pieces in copper were struck as dividing coins. Dividing coins were still used to "balance the Corant coins up to two-euro pence and for smaller payments below this amount" . Only indigenous tokens could be accepted. There were small deviations in the regional environment, the Bremen Groten and the Hamburg and Danish Schillings as well as the Stüber in East Friesland.
"Income and expenses of the public coffers, which have been set (minted) in gold, or in new two-thirds according to the Leipzig footing, in convention-like guilders or in other specifically specified types, must also be made in these types" . The Princely Lüneburg coins that were minted in Celle between 1690 and 1705, those of the cities of Lüneburg (1702), Goslar (after 1705, there were four years of two and one- thirds coins ) were considered approved "new two-thirds" coins. and Hildesheim (until 1746). In addition, two-thirds pieces “from Prussian and Brandenburg, from Saxon, from Brunswick and from Mecklenburg” were allowed. The last two-thirds pieces were minted from fine silver in Hanover in 1839. Later thalers contained 25% copper. The value of the two-thirds pieces in 1848 was 18 Gutegroschen 6 pfennigs in Courant money.
The price of gold coins was set on June 25, 1835. The ducat was worth 3 talers, 6 groschen, the pistol 5 talers 16 groschen. The value remained largely constant.
On January 1, 1854, the Kingdom of Hanover became a member of the Zollverein formed under the leadership of Prussia . With the exception of Austria, Mecklenburg, Holstein and Schleswig, all federal states were members. One condition was the acceptance of the Dresden Coin Convention of July 30, 1838, through which the coinage " should be regulated in the countries of the contracting states" . In the northern countries the 14 thaler foot (introduced in Hanover since 1834) or in the southern countries the 24½ guilder foot should apply as the exclusive monetary standard. The club coin with a value of 2 thalers or 3½ gulden was new, and was intended to facilitate mutual intercourse as it corresponded to both mint feet. The Hanoverian mint received the prescribed inscription: “VEREINSMÜNZE. 2 THALER - 3½ GULDEN. VII A FINE MARK "
1857 to 1866
On January 24, 1857, in the Vienna Mint Treaty, the Vereinstaler was agreed as a means of payment in Austria and most of the states of the German Customs Union. Instead of the previous coin weight of the "Cologne Mark" (233.8555 g), which was minted in 14 thalers, there was the "pound in the weight of 500 French grams" , which was to be minted in 30 thalers.
The minting agreement was published in Hanover by a royal patent dated June 3, 1857 and put into effect. 2-thaler pieces, thalers and ⅙ thalers pieces should be minted. Thaler and double thaler were also called one and two club coins, they were the "club coins". The ⅙ thaler piece and the coins minted after the 14 thaler foot remained the Courant coins. They were equated with the courant coins of the other members of the Zollverein. The old two-thirds pieces and convention guilders were still in circulation. Their value was: "For all payments to be made to the Royal Coffers in Courant" for those "Cassen two-thirds pieces pronounced according to the 18 guilder foot" to 23 groschen, the 1/3 pieces to 11 groschen 5 pfennigs, the so-called convention guilders , which are pronounced according to the 20 guilder foot, are set at 20 groschen 9 pfennigs and finally the ⅙ thaler pieces at 5 groschen 2 pfennig.
In the annex to the Coin Act of June 3, 1857, the division of the taler was re-regulated in the kingdom. Following the Saxon model, the thaler was divided into 30 groschen of 10 pfennigs each. The 1 ⁄ 12 thaler piece, previously the Courant coin, has now become a dividing coin. It was no longer 2, but 2½ groschen. Groschen and ½ groschen pieces were to be minted in silver and 2 and 1 pfennig pieces in copper as further dividing coins. They were introduced on June 1, 1858. The old dividing coins were withdrawn and exchanged for new ones. On October 1, 1858, the old copper coins were reduced in value. At the same time the value of the silver dividing coins changed; the value of the pennies they contained was reduced from 1 ⁄ 288 to 1 ⁄ 300 . On October 31, silver coins should no longer be accepted for payments to the “manorial coffers” , from July 15, 1859 also “as payment in common traffic” .
The ducats have been abolished in the countries of the German Customs Union. A new trading coin, the crown, was created for this. It was 90% gold and 45 pieces were to be minted from one pound of gold. The 11.11 g crowns and the half crowns should show the portrait of the sovereign on the back and the value in an oak wreath on the front. About the value one wrote: “Our finance minister will determine the price at which kroner and half kroner are accepted for payments to be made at our cash registers in Courant” . He did so on October 24, 1857; the crown had a value of 9 thalers, 5 groschen 6 pfennigs, or 9 thalers, 6 groschen and 9 pfennigs according to the new classification of the thaler. This is also shown by the slight difference in the value of the taler due to the changeover. The value fluctuated at times between 8 thalers (1859) and 9 thalers 10 groschen (1865). Pistols from countries belonging to the Zollverein remained at the rate of 5 Taler 12 Gutegroschen (5 Taler 13 Groschen 8 Pfennig). Pistols from other countries should no longer be accepted.
1866
Hanover has become Prussian. By a Prussian ordinance of August 24, 1867, "the former Kingdom of Hanover, based on the thaler currency, is equal to the Courant coins and silver divide coins of the Prussian state coins" . The Prussian silver groschen was divided into 12 pfennigs, now “10 Hannoversche pfennigs equal twelve Prussian pfennigs”.
After the introduction of the uniform mark in 1871 (⅓ of the club thaler), the older regional coins were gradually put out of circulation. On April 1, 1874, all gold coins minted before 1871 as well as the convention thalers and their parts. As of January 1, 1875, the “so-called Kassen one-third and two-thirds pieces of Hanoverian stamping” etc.
| year | Coin footer | unit | Piece on the fine mark |
Fine silver (in grams) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1690 | Leipzig foot | Speciestaler Reichstaler ⅔ piece (24MGr.) |
9 12 18 |
25.96 19.50 13.00 |
| 1753 | Conventions foot | Speciestaler Reichstaler 16 Gutegroschen |
10 13⅓ 20 |
23.386 17.55 11.70 |
| 1834 | 14 thaler feet | Valleys | 14th | 16.714 See note 1 |
| 1857 | 30 thaler feet | Club thaler | 30th | 16,667 See note 2 |
Note 1: on a Cologne mark 233.8555 g. Note 2: 500 g per inch pound
See also
- German monetary history from 1871
- Brunswick coin history
- Bremen coins : history and coins of the Archdiocese and the city of Bremen
- Lippe coin history
- Lübeck coin history
- Mecklenburg coin history
- Prussian coin history
- Saxon coin history
literature
- Paul Arnold , Harald Küthmann , Dirk Steinhilber : Large German coin catalog from 1800 to today (AKS) Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf 2016, ISBN 978-3-86646-131-4 with introduction "The basics of German coin history in the 19th century", Pp. 7-10.
- T. Hagemann (Hrsg.): Collections Collection of the Hanoverian state ordinances and tenders. Hanover, years 1813–1817.
- Collection of laws, ordinances and tenders for the Kingdom of Hanover. Years 1818–1866.
- Hermann Junghans: Developments and convergences in the coinage of the German states between 1806 and 1873 with special consideration of the small coins , contributions to economic and social history - Volume 131, Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart 2017, ISBN 978-3-515-11837-8 .
- Werner Kaemling: The Guelphs and their money / history and stories. Holtzmeyer, Braunschweig 1985, ISBN 3-923722-11-7 .
- Helmut Rüggenberg: Money and coinage in the Kingdom of Hanover / From 1813 to 1866 / According to laws and regulations. Lecture given at the 1981 autumn conference of the Hannover Working Group in the BDPh.
- Bernd Sprenger: The Germans' money. 3. Edition. Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn 2002, ISBN 3-506-78623-7 .
- Wolfgang Trapp: Small handbook of coinage and the monetary system in Germany. Reclam-Verlag, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-15-018026-0 .
Individual evidence
- ^ Reichs-Gesetz-Blatt for the Empire of Austria. 1857, XXXIII. Piece. No. 101 of June 6, 1857, pp. 375f.
- ^ Numbers of items compiled according to: Arnold, Küthmann, Steinhilber: Large German coin catalog from 1800 to today. 25th edition. 2010.
- ^ Hermann Grote: The theory of money. 1865, p. 152.
- ^ Arnold, Küthmann, Steinhilber: Large German coin catalog from 1800 to today. 25th edition. 2010.
- ^ Karl Helfferich: The consequences of the German-Austrian coin association of 1857. Strasbourg 1894.
- ↑ Reichs-Gesetz-Blatt for the kingdoms and countries represented in the Reichsrathe. 1893, XII. Piece. No. 39 of March 28, 1893, p. 51.
- ↑ Reichs-Gesetz-Blatt for the kingdoms and countries represented in the Reichsrathe. 1893, XVII. Piece. No. 53 of April 18, 1893, p. 126.
- ^ German Reich Law Gazette. Volume 1892, No. 13 of March 2, 1892, p. 315.
- ^ German Reich Law Gazette. Volume 1900, No. 54 of November 24, 1900, p. 1013.