PetermäNNChen Questions And Legends

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Collects82 Pillar of the Community United States 1316 Posts	Posted 07/22/2016 10:57 am Aloha Friday! My most recent adoptions are these two Trier 1682 coins featuring Petermännchen. I find these incredibly charming pieces, the images on the obverse just ooze "there is a story to tell here!" and were rather affordable (I know they are not high grades and are minor sized). I have three questions: 1. Trier was a Catholic diocese during the mintage of these. I've seen mention the image here is of St Peter, which makes sense. But these are also referred to as Petermännchen, and a quick Wikipedia search brings up a legend of a good-natured, bearded pagan spirit said to live in the Schwerin Palace. The spirit carries keys and roams the tunnels, unlocking doors, and sometimes described as carrying lanterns and daggers as a watchman of the castle, rewarding the honest and good. The legend has it that when Christianity came to Schwerin, the pagan spirits fled except this guy who would not leave his post. So I am confused. the images seem to match the legendary pagan Petermännchen, but would the Catholic diocese really put a pagan spirit on their coins? 2. How many types of these are there to search for? Is there a particular reference? Have I opened a glorious new window of a niche to collect '82s? 3. Post yours! I'd love to see some more! Edited by Collects82 07/22/2016 11:01 am Report this Post to the Staff

bart Pillar of the Community Belgium 651 Posts	Posted 07/23/2016 06:24 am As you can see, St. Peter is depicted on these coins, the patron saint of Trier. As St. Peter holds the keys of heaven, he is always depicted with a key. I don't think the bishop-elector would have thought of a pagan spirit. In popular speech the image of St. Peter would become a "Peterman" or "Petermännchen" as in little Peterman. In the same way the inhabitants of the Belgian city of Leuven are also called "Pietermannen" after St. Peter, who is also the patron saint of Leuven, the old capital of the county of Leuven, later the duchy of Brabant. During the 14th century there were also "gold pietermannen" minted at the mint of Louvain, showing an image of St. Peter. Report this Post to the Staff
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