Moneta Dominorum Prussiae (Shilling)

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Counterfeit coin, reverse side (Attention: The word MONETA is missing from the designation )
Counterfeit coin, obverse

Moneta Dominorum Prussiae also MONETA DNORVM PRVCI (German: Mint of the Lords of Prussia ) was the name of a medieval coin that was in circulation in the Teutonic Order from 1380 to 1525 .

The name of the coin was Schilling . The coin was made of silver and was about 20 millimeters in diameter. On the back of the coin was the coat of arms of the Teutonic Order. On the outer edge was the inscription MONETA DNORVM PRVCI . The front was adorned with a shield with an eagle as the respective ruling Grand Master led him and on the edge the title (Magister) and name of the respective Grand Master.

History of the coin

Due to the good economic development in the order state in the 14th century, changes in the monetary area were necessary on the part of the grand masters responsible. Until then, pfennig coins (denarii) in the form of hollow pennies (bracteates) were in circulation. However, the material did not correspond to their actual nominal value, nor was there a sufficient amount to meet the increased demands. This is why Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode had Schilling coins minted from 1380 onwards. The coins, also known as solidus , were worth twelve pfennigs. 60 shillings resulted in one Prussian mark.

When it was first introduced, the schilling had a silver fineness of 845/000 and was the most common coin in the Teutonic Order for a long time. However, due to the negative political development of the order, the value of the coin sank to a silver fineness of only 200/000 by the end of the 15th century at the time of Grand Master Johann von Tiefen (1489–1497).

Other currency units valid in the order state

literature

  • E. Neumann: The coins of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, the Duchy of Prussia, West Prussia and the coinage of the Teutonic Order in Mergentheim 1235–1801. Numismatischer Verlag Schulten, Cologne 1987, ISBN 3-921302-48-X .
  • FA Vossberg: History of the Prussian coins and seals from the earliest times to the end of the rule of the Teutonic Order. Fincke, Berlin 1843 (photomechanical reprint. Leipzig, Verlag Zentralantiquariat der DDR 1975).
  • B. Dudík: The high Teutonic Knight Order's coin collection in Vienna. Gerold, Vienna 1858 (reprint: Verlag Wissenschaftliches Archiv, Bonn 1966 ( sources and studies on the history of the Teutonic Order 6, ISSN  0481-3626 )):
  • Prokisch Bernhard: The coins and medals of the Teutonic Order in modern times. Austrian Research Society for Numismatics, Vienna 2006, ISBN 3-9500530-8-5 ( publications by the Institute for Numismatics and Monetary History of the University of Vienna 11).
  • J. Steen Jensen The coins of the German Order and the North ( The German Order in the time of the Kalmar Union 1397-1521 . Toruń 1999.) P. 91–98