Münzregal

The coinage was the name for the sovereign right to determine the coinage within the Holy Roman Empire. It includes the determination of the currency, the right to coin procreation and the right to the Münznutzen, so the profit from the coinage (old: seigniorage ).

Definition

The minting authority was defined as follows:

The subordinate was the right of coinage, which only included the right to coin money, sometimes to determine the appearance of the coins.

However, it was the financial return is the most important part of the Münzregals, so often the Münznutzen is called coinage. The coinage could be leased or mortgaged.

History

Since Charlemagne was the coinage on the model of ancient Rome in the Frankish crown, which exerted a strong central power. The royal administration was also responsible for the establishment and operation of the mints, the standard of coinage and the coinage.

With strong growth of the economy from the 9th century, the right of coinage was often associated with the customs and market right on spiritual rulers, mainly bishops delegated. Since the 11th century there was also awarded to secular princes and later passed on cities.

The Golden Bull of Charles IV in 1356 holds the coin and the mountain shelf of the Holy Roman Emperor were fully informed on the electors of the Holy Roman Empire. Since 1648 also the other estates of the empire was awarded the coinage. Nevertheless, the sovereignty over the coinage remained officially the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.