Konrad Bethmann

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Salzburger Reichsthaler from 1694, similar to the coins minted by Konrad Bethmann

Konrad Bethmann , even Conrad Bethmann (* 1652 in Goslar , † 1701 in Mainz ) was a German Münzwardein and mint master , and as such was in the service and on behalf of secular and spiritual masters.

Life

He was born in Goslar, the seventh child of the businessman Andreas Bethmann, four years after the Peace of Westphalia put an end to the Thirty Years War . The German patchwork quilt of small and medium-sized principalities of the time offered ambitious officials and entrepreneurs numerous opportunities to advance professionally.

After leaving his hometown he worked as mint master in Dömitz (Mecklenburg), from 1683 as mint master for the Princess of Nassau-Holzappel in Cramberg an der Lahn , then from 1687 as mint master for the Teutonic Order in Friedberg (Hesse) , and finally from 1692 as Mint master for the Archdiocese and Electorate of Mainz in Aschaffenburg .

One of the oldest archival documents about the Bethmann family in Frankfurt am Main that can be accessed online is a criminal complaint that Bethmann filed in 1685 on behalf of the Nassau family. Under the rubric "Jews against foreigners" the case is summarized in the archive as follows:

“Conrad Bethmann, princely Nassau-Schaumburg mint master, against Mencke and Abraham zum Hecht (father and son) for stealing from Schaumburger Hellern in Schwalbach near Königstein and receiving stolen goods. Defendants claim to have acquired the stolen coins in good faith. Arrest for Abraham, release against a position of 304 Rt. Security. Comparison of Abraham with the Nassau-Schaumburgisches Keller
Contains: Medical reports on the state of health of the imprisoned Abraham zum Hecht; Legal opinion of the Syndici. "

He left a considerable fortune to his widow Anna Elisabeth (1654–1727).

family

As a Protestant, the widowed Anna Elisabeth and her children left the archbishopric and moved to Lutheran Frankfurt am Main ; there it was easier for her to fulfill her religious obligations, and she was welcomed by relatives there. Three of Konrad and Anna Elisabeth's daughters married to citizens of Frankfurt. Her son Simon Moritz Bethmann (1687–1725) worked as a bailiff in Bergnassau an der Lahn .

According to Helbing (p. 23) another son is buried in the St. Lazarus cemetery in Regensburg . The inscription on his tombstone reads:

"Reader!

Here you may look for what you cannot find and find what you are not looking for. You looked for a coin and found more than one coin:

Dust, earth and ashes from a righteous Christian, namely from the once highly noble and learned Mr. Balthasar Johann Bethmann, Sr. Hochfürstlichen Durchl. Of the ruling Mr. Landgraffen zu Hessen-Darmstadt, best-merited Berg-Rath, the most laudable waiter -Rheinischen Kreyses Müntz-Rath and General-Wardein, who was born in 1679 d. August 12th in Braunschweig, honored as Müntz master in Darmstadt from 1706 for 28 years, there raised worthy Berg-Rath in 1734, by Hochlöbl. Ober-Rheinischen Kreyss for Müntz-Probation ad comitia deputired ano 1737 and died in bliss 1738 d. Juny 26 of his full age fame in the 59th year.

Now you know what kind of Müntz lies in that grave, what its salary, its value, character and title. Now it doesn't shine. But live happily in God. "

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Conrad Bethmann court file, signature 472. Internet presence of the Institute for Urban History . The ISG does not assign any URLs to individual archive items. To get to that entry is here first on persons II (collections) to click, then on the next page on the blue button that says search to click in the search box Tags enter "Conrad Bethmann" (without quotes). Duration remains free. The entry appears as the first hit after clicking Start .
personal data
SURNAME Bethmann, Konrad
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bethmann, Conrad
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Münzwardein and mint master
DATE OF BIRTH 1652
PLACE OF BIRTH Goslar
DATE OF DEATH 1701
Place of death Mainz