Foam coin
A coin is referred to as a foam coin , which is usually designated with the face value of circulation coins , which distinguishes it from medals , but whose actual purpose was not to be used as an intermediate medium of exchange.
Intended as a souvenir and a precious gift, it was created in a complex process and carefully embossed. Originally creations of the Italian Renaissance (such as Scudo d'oro were) that should symbolize the self-confidence of the often rapidly upstart princes, and inspired by classical models, they spread in Germany since the time of Emperor Maximilian I. quickly. These included sight pennies, gulden, thalers ("Prämientaler") and ducats, which were used as mementos on special occasions - for example for prizes at shooting competitions, baptisms, weddings, deaths, medals , good school degrees or other occasions, were often minted with a multiple face value of the circulation coin.
The show coins were often officially awarded by princes or given as gifts and can sometimes be seen as the forerunners of today's orders (" Gnadenpfennige "). These special issues were occasionally executed on thick schrötlingen (called coin solver) or as cliffs (angular coins). They were occasionally provided with handles or eyelets so that they could be worn on the "(trouser) strap".
In the 18th century in particular, there were discounts of low-value penny or penny stamps on high-quality gold or silver flakes, which were then given out as gifts on the occasion of visits to mints by high-ranking personalities - in addition to official coin-visit thalers . Reductions, for example from ducat stamps on inferior copper chips, can mostly be viewed as work or quality controls of the stamps.
In older literature, show coins are also referred to as medals , since the distinction between coins and medals was not yet common. On the other hand, a Schautaler is sometimes still referred to as a coin that was minted as a medal. For example, some of the Locumtenenstaler medals stamped on the rank of governor are , although they are often referred to as guldengroschen .
A specialty is the so-called Gluckhennentaler . It is referred to as both a show thaler and a medal. It exists as a guldentaler as a show coin and coin.