The ''Reichsguldiner'', ''Reichsguldener'' or ''Guldenthaler'' was a large silver coin issued under the second Augsburg Imperial Minting Ordinance (''Reichsmünzordnung'') of 1559. The ''Reichsguldiner'' was to have a value of 60 '' kreuzers'' and be minted from a silver alloy of 930.5/1000 with a gross weight of 24.6 g. The reverse of the coin was to bear the double-headed

Imperial Eagle The eagle is used in heraldry as a charge, as a supporter, and as a crest. Heraldic eagles can be found throughout world history like in the Achaemenid Empire or in the present Republic of Indonesia. The European post-classical symbolism of the ...

and an

Imperial Orb The ''globus cruciger'' ( for, , Latin, cross-bearing orb), also known as "the orb and cross", is an orb surmounted by a cross. It has been a Christian symbol of authority since the Middle Ages, used on coins, in iconography, and with a sceptre ...

with the denomination 60. The introduction of the ''Reichsguldiner'' actually only took place in the south-west German regions. The

Electorate of Saxony The Electorate of Saxony, also known as Electoral Saxony (German: or ), was a territory of the Holy Roman Empire from 1356–1806. It was centered around the cities of Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz. In the Golden Bull of 1356, Emperor Charles ...

, which was rich in silver deposits, and the northern, western and central German imperial estates did not mint ''Reichsguldiners''. Instead, they stayed with the ''

thaler A thaler (; also taler, from german: Taler) is one of the large silver coins minted in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy during the Early Modern period. A ''thaler'' size silver coin has a diameter of ...

'' that had already been introduced there. In the subsequent minting ordinance of 1566, the ''thaler'' was established instead of the ''Reichsguldiner'' as the official large silver coin of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...

(see '' Reichstaler'').

Literature

* Tyll Kroha: ''Reichsguldiner.'' ''Lexikon der Numismatik.'' Bertelsmann-Lexikonverlag, Gütersloh 1977, p. 363. * Tyll Kroha: ''Augsburger Reichsmünzordnung(en).'' ''Lexikon der Numismatik.'' Bertelsmann-Lexikonverlag, Gütersloh 1977. p. 43. {{Thaler Thaler Coins of the Holy Roman Empire

See also

Literature