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Holy Roman Empire, Electorate of Saxony, Frederick III the Wise, Schreckenberg Engelgroschen)

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Holy Roman Empire, Electorate of Saxony, Frederick III the Wise, Schreckenberg Engelgroschen) (obverse) Holy Roman Empire, Electorate of Saxony, Frederick III the Wise, Schreckenberg Engelgroschen) (reverse)

The groschens (groats) minted in Saxony were called "Schreckenbergers," since from 1498 onwards they were made from the silver from the Schreckenberg silver mine. The Schreckenberg groschens were larger than previous groschens of Saxony, to enable the rich silver reserves to be minted faster and more cheaply. The angel on the obverse bearing the coat of arms of Saxony gave the coins the nickname "angel groschens." Schreckenberg angel groschens were minted in Electoral Saxony and Thuringia until 1571. They were used well beyond the frontiers of Saxony thanks to their reliability, and in the Netherlands they circulated as pieces worth 4 stuivers. A Schreckenberg groschen was worth a seventh of a goldgulden and thus 3 zinsgroschens.

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