Rhenish guilder

The Rhenish florins was the regional gold standard within the scope of the Rhenish Minting in the late Middle Ages. The only Münznominal this currency was the Rhenish florins (Latin florenus Rheni ) Abbreviation: fl ( Rh ).

Formation

On June 8, 1386 founded the four Rhenish electors Kuno von Trier, Friedrich von Cologne, Adolf of Mainz and Rupert of the Rhine, the first Rhenish coinage, which up to the first half of the 16th century was followed by others. The Rheinische coinage was as common gold coin characterize the Rhenish guilders and put him in his scope in circulation. The currency area of the Rhenish Minting stretched down the Rhine to Neuss, upriver to Kochem, upriver and down the Main to Worms and maximum.

The Archbishops of Trier and Cologne had already in 1372 a coinage for the unification of coinage and ensuring the coin quality made ​​and minting gold and silver coins with specified fineness. As a gold coin she could shape the Weißpfennig a florin with Saint Peter on the front and as a common silver coin. The Archbishops of Trier and Cologne had already been awarded in 1346 by Charles IV in his coronation as a reward for their support on his election as Roman-German king, while Kurmainz this privilege was only in 1354 that Goldmünzprivileg.

Under the provisions of the Golden Bull of Charles IV had 1356 all electors of the Holy Roman Empire the unrestricted right to mint coins, and thus to have the privilege to mint gold coins - the Goldmünzprivileg. Originally, the estates had only the right to mint pennies, but not larger silver coins or Goldmünzen.Die issue of gold coins was since ancient times, the sole right of the Roman emperor, whose coinage was remained with the Roman-German emperors. Only by this the Goldmünzprivileg could be imparted. As the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Emperor Louis had given a Goldmünzprivileg.

Importance

The Rheinische coinage was German for the coinage of the Rhineland and the entire Holy Roman Empire Nation of utmost importance. The gold florins of the Rhenish Minting were everywhere accepted as a trade coin and used until the 17th century as an invoice coin. The Rhenish florins was the basis for many regional currencies throughout the Holy Roman Empire and at the financial level, the " unifying " the empire. Not only gold, but also silver coins were valued in their value by the Rhenish florins, and thus fixes the exchange rate; in the Mark Brandenburg were, for example, 1426 " drey good Rhenish gulden for a shock dime " expected.

The currency adjustment of Meissen groschen to the Rhenish florins as a basis for regional Grosch currency of the Margraviate of Meissen was from 1368 to 1369 at this time. Dimes were minted pennies in the Landeshauptmünzstätte Freiberg and Zwickau coin type width. Since the mid-15th century, a fixed exchange rate between Meissen groschen and Rhenish guilders was made. Initially coined in the ratio of 1/ 20 or 1/21 the Rhenish gold florins, had this as " Oberwähr " designated accepted dime to any payment in the Margraviate of Meissen. Later, the Meissen groschen was then embossed in the ratio of 1/ 26 for gold, and referred to as " Beiwähr ".

Exchange rate

Detachment

The Rhenish guilder was struck by the end of the first quarter of the 17th century by the Rheinische coinage. Due to lack of a Gold fineness decreased from initially 23 to 19 carats ( 1425-1444 ). In the late 15th and in the 16th century, the coinage of the gold florin short supply in. In the Augsburg Reichsmünzordnungen therefore the silver equivalent of the gold florin was determined to Münznominal. In the 16th century the Rhenish Guldgulden was replaced as gold coin by the Dukat, however, continue to be used until the 17th century as an invoice coin.