Here is one of the nicest ones I have, a Vereinsthaler from the Free City of Frankfurt 1860.
It is 1/30 of a pound silver (says so on the coin: XXX EIN PFUND FEIN).
It was minted in the time of the Zollverein, founded 1834, where German states (basically without Austria) agreed on common trade laws and effectively created a unified market, in which Prussia was by far the strongest player. I guess this already foreshadowed the "kleindeutsche Lösung" 1871, when Germany united without Austria and dominated by Prussia.
The german states and free cities all minted their own Vereinsthaler in that time, with variations in obverse and reverse, usually with the ruler pictured on one side and a coat of arms on the other.
Interestingly, Ausria joined the common coinage (not the Zollverein) in 1854 and began also minting Vereinsthaler.
There are also double versions of these (XV EIN PFUND FEIN), but they are quite expensive, because they are rarer.
As mentioned I do not like bearded old guys on my coins (this is why I also like
US coins ....), so I only have the one from Frankfurt.
Btw: On the rim are he Letters "STARK IM RECHT", which means "STRONG IN THE LAW".
to the Community!
Posted 07/18/2022 4:47 pm
