Coins 1746 edition. The grotto (groschen) German States

Grotto (Grosh) of the German States

The currency, which for centuries have been used in different countries in the calculations, is a groschen. At the end of XII century in Italy produced the Genoese silver Grosso weight of 1.46 g. In the mid-thirteenth century France tours minted groschen – a coin that is similar to Grosso, who became the prototype of many European coins. In England it is a Groat, in the Netherlands – Groot or grotto, in Italy – Grosso, in Germany – groten or grotto. In Eastern Europe and Russia the coin is called a groschen. Spanish real also copied from a groschen.
In the XIV century, a penny becomes the main bargaining chip of the average denomination. The first coin, weighed almost 4 g, and were called Royal. Then the weight and fineness decrease, and appear the coins with the title: Blanc – pennies made of billon.
The mint of Bremen of the German States produces in 1746 a silver grotto, 1, weighing only 0.74 g, size 16.44 g. On the front side there is a key on the decorated shield. The circular legend is applied to the year of manufacture and the abbreviated name of the city of Bremen. On the reverse: crowned Imperial eagle. The coin engraver is Matthias Meyer.
This year also 1 silver grotto of billon, 18 mm in size, is minted On the obverse: in the middle of the emblem is depicted the denomination of the coin "1", in an inlaid circle. The emblem is a two-headed crowned eagle. On the reverse: on the decorative shield applied heraldic symbols of the city of Bremen. In the circular legend – release date and abbreviated name of Bremen.
Coins from the billon are minted in Germany until the end of the XIX century, before the creation of the German Empire and the coin system of the state. Now pennies, as a bargaining chip, are in circulation in Poland. Austria used these banknotes In the XX century, before the transition to the Euro.