Sharp
A Scherf (also Schärff or Sharp Pfennig ) was a low-value silver coin used in Erfurt and other cities from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, and later also a copper coin with a value of around half a pfennig . The simple Scherf was only rarely minted, there were coins of 3, 6 and 12 Scherf more frequently, the last being in Lüneburg in 1777 .
Designations
Scherf, Old High German scerpf and Middle High German scherpf, scherff, scherf, probably belongs to Middle High German schersche, schersche “cut in” and is thus related to Scherbe : the silver pennies had predetermined breaking points so that they could be divided for smaller values, and after being broken they were “shards ".
If necessary, a 1-pfennig piece could simply be divided into two half-pieces, hence the names Helbing, Hälbling, Helblinger or Helling . However, the Scherf must be differentiated from the Heller , although this was also worth half a penny at times. The halfling often appears under the name obol or obolus , but must not be confused with the ancient Greek obolus .
"Mites" and "sell off"
The mite is the diminutive of Scherf . This term has been used to this day in a phrase that goes back to Martin Luther's translation of the Bible ( Mk 12.42 LUT ): “contribute one's little bit to something”. This is a small but creditable contribution.
The term verscherbeln for "sell below value" may also of late Middle High German shear (p) f derived.
See also
literature
- Franz Appell: On the coin history of Erfurt. Contributions to the Erfurt coinage . In: Communications for the history and antiquity of Erfurt 24, 1903 and 53, 1940.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kluge. Etymological dictionary of the German language . Edited by Elmar Seebold. 25th, revised and expanded edition. De Gruyter, Berlin / Boston 2001; Etymological dictionary of German. Developed under the direction of Wolfgang Pfeifer. 2nd, revised, improved and supplemented edition. Academy, Berlin 1993; ever under mites .
- ↑ heinrich-tischner.de
- ↑ Duden online: sell off