1 Heller – Landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel
Obverse
Description:
Crowned lion facing left.
Reverse
Description:
Center inscription: denomination and date.
Inscription:
* I *
HELLER
SCHEIDE
MVNTZ
1723
HELLER
SCHEIDE
MVNTZ
1723
Script: Latin
Edge
Mints
| Name | Mark |
|---|---|
| Kassel | — |
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1723 | — | — | ||
| 1724 | — | — |
Historical background
In 1723, the currency situation in the Landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel was complex and challenging, characterized by a fragmented and debased monetary system. The landgraviate did not have a uniform coinage; instead, a multitude of different coins circulated simultaneously. These included older domestic issues, coins from neighboring German states, and international currencies like the Reichsthaler and Gulden, all with fluctuating values. This proliferation was a legacy of the Thirty Years' War and subsequent periods, where rulers had often debased coinage to raise short-term funds, eroding public trust and creating chronic instability for trade and daily transactions.
The reigning Landgrave, Charles I, who assumed power in 1730 but was already influential in 1723, inherited this problematic system from his predecessor, Landgrave Frederick I. The primary economic consequence was a severe hindrance to commerce, as merchants and citizens constantly had to negotiate exchange rates and assess the intrinsic silver content of coins. This uncertainty acted as a drag on the economy and complicated state finances. Furthermore, the landgraviate's participation in the broader Holy Roman Empire meant its monetary policy was partly subject to imperial regulations, like the Reichsmünzordnung (Imperial Coinage Ordinance), which were largely ineffective in practice, adding another layer of bureaucratic complication.
Consequently, the period around 1723 was one of mounting pressure for monetary reform. While a comprehensive recoinage and standardization would only be pursued more vigorously under Charles I's personal rule later, the groundwork for change was being laid. The situation demanded a move toward a stable, unified currency to facilitate economic growth and increase fiscal sovereignty—a necessity that would eventually lead to significant reforms, most notably under Landgrave Frederick II later in the century, who would famously use the landgraviate's sound finances to fund mercenary troops for hire.
The reigning Landgrave, Charles I, who assumed power in 1730 but was already influential in 1723, inherited this problematic system from his predecessor, Landgrave Frederick I. The primary economic consequence was a severe hindrance to commerce, as merchants and citizens constantly had to negotiate exchange rates and assess the intrinsic silver content of coins. This uncertainty acted as a drag on the economy and complicated state finances. Furthermore, the landgraviate's participation in the broader Holy Roman Empire meant its monetary policy was partly subject to imperial regulations, like the Reichsmünzordnung (Imperial Coinage Ordinance), which were largely ineffective in practice, adding another layer of bureaucratic complication.
Consequently, the period around 1723 was one of mounting pressure for monetary reform. While a comprehensive recoinage and standardization would only be pursued more vigorously under Charles I's personal rule later, the groundwork for change was being laid. The situation demanded a move toward a stable, unified currency to facilitate economic growth and increase fiscal sovereignty—a necessity that would eventually lead to significant reforms, most notably under Landgrave Frederick II later in the century, who would famously use the landgraviate's sound finances to fund mercenary troops for hire.
✨ Legendary