In the ongoing effort to keep this coin chatting board alive, el Heron presents 3
"ell" coins recently acquired. Two are Holy Roman Empire issues and 1 is a coin
issued by Austria when that illustrious country owned Lombardy and Venetia.
Lauenburg an der Elbe:
This is a 2 Schilling Silver coin 18mm in diameter and dated 1738.
On the obverse, this coin has the typical horse design of Hannover. Nothing
special about design.
On the reverse this coin has;
II
SCHILLING
1738
Below the horse design and in small font are the letters C.P.S.
These are the initials of Mint Master Christian Phillip Spangenberg in Clausthal.
[Clausthal could be another addition to the list of 'mints' of the HRE].
Of interest to collectors of HRE coins is the fact that this issue qualifies as an HRE coin.
Lauenburg town was founded in 1182 by Bernard of Ascania.
Ancestor of the Dukes of Lauenburg.
Lauenburg became part of Saxe-Lauenburg until 1 July 1876 when the area was
incorporated into the Royal Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein.
In medieval times Lauenburg was an important waypoint on the "Old Salt Route".
Today Lauenburg is the southern terminus of Elbe-Lubeck Canal.
Following the Napoleonic wars, Prussia swapped Lauenburg to Denmark in exchange
for the region of Pomerania. [Neat stuff back in the olden days -swapping 'countries'..!]
In 1813 Lauenburg to Prussia.
In 1814 Lauenburg to Denmark.
In 1864 Lauenburg back to Prussia by annexation at end of 2nd Schleswig war.
Notable Resident: Jurgen Plagemann [born 1936] Rower and Olympic Silver medal
winner in 1964.
Now for some additional interesting information:
The ruler of Lauenburg in 1738 was none other than King George II Augustus.
Some folks might remember this King as King George II of England during 1738.
At the same time, this King George was also Elector of Hannover, and also had the
title of Duke of Brunswig and Luneburg. A right powerful Duke indeed!
This Lauenburg coin is a 'new' addition to the HRE collection.
LIEGE;
This is a Copper coin denominated 1 Liard dated 1745. It measures 22mm dia.
This coin is another interesting item primarily because Heron misplaced his first Liege coin
and could not 'findit'. So when Heron saw this Liege coin for sale at a Socal coin expo
several months pasado he acquired it.
This coin has coats of arms on both sides. Coats of arms of Liege and also Prince Bishop
Johann Theodor of Bavaria who was Prince Bishop of the Prince Bishopric Liege 1744 - 1763.
Liege was a Prince Bishopric 972 to 1789.
Part of the Holy Roman Empire and from 1500 part of the Nieder Rhenish Westfalen 'circle'.
Then about 2 weeks pasado Heron found his first Liege coin. It was misplaced in the carton.
Heron had 'filed' it under der Niederlanden in error.
Lombard - Venetia
This coin does not 'count' as a new coin of the Germanic/Alemannic states. Heron acquired this
coin because of the denomination of 1/4 Lira.
This is a small Silver coin measuring 15.5mm dia. It is listed as .600 silver.
The Obverse has a portrait of Francis I of Austria.
The Reverse has a nice 'crowned' coat of arms.
Nothing extra special about this coin because it does not 'count' as a 'new' issuing authority.
However, the 1/4 Lira is a 'new' Italian Provinces denomination for el Heron.
Info Sources:
Wikit List of States of Holy Roman Empire.
Lauenburg Wikit.
Lauenburg KM catalog of Germanian coins 1601 to...
Lauenburg Map Googly.
Saxe-Lauenburg Wikit.
Liege Wikit.
Liege list of Prince Bishops of Liege wikit.
Lombardy-Venetia KM Catalog of World coins.
Johann Theodor wikit.
More fun for world coin collecting! The fun never ends until you know who 'sings'!
xx
