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FRANKFURT: Free City, AE theler, 1807, PCGS MS62 BN

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Coins - Europe Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:50.00 - 75.00 USD
FRANKFURT: Free City, AE theler, 1807, PCGS MS62 BN
SOLD
95.00USD+ buyer's premium (20.00)
This item SOLD at 2025 Nov 18 @ 10:44UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT
IMPORTANT NOTE - The Buyer's Premium is now $20 per lot or 20% of the hammer price, whichever amount is greater. However, we have also reduced opening bids on lower value items to adjust for the new Buyer's Premium structure, so all-in costs are still very close to what they were in the past. This change in fee structure will allow us to continue to offer coins valued at less than $100 in addition to our higher value offerings. Contact us with any questions.
FRANKFURT: Free City, AE theler, 1807, KM-Tn1, JuF-1993, "Judenpfennig" type, an attractive example, PCGS graded MS62 BN.

The term judenpfennige ("Jews' Pennies") was used for small coins issued by Rhineland Jews. When Prussia stopped issuing small change in 1808, a serious lack of coins in the lower denominations was felt in the Rhineland. To overcome these difficulties, some Jews issued copper coins in denominations of Pfennig and Heller. As these were nonofficial issues, they gave some imaginary names, such as "Atribuo," "Halbac," or "Theler." These coins were somewhat lighter than the official coins. They bear fictitious designs, such as a coat of arms, a star, a wreath, a lion, a cock, and others, and carry the dates of 1703, 1740, 1807, 1809, 1810, 1818, 1819, 1820, and 1821. In 1821, however, the Prussian mint renewed the issue of small change, thereby putting a rather abrupt end to these illegal monetary enterprises. The authorities appointed a special unit, the Muenzpolizei ("Coin Police"), whose task was to confiscate these coins and to bring to court those who produced and distributed them. It is not known where they were struck. Some people seem to have made immense profit by handling them. One person from the city of Neuss is said to have made 54,000 florins profit. One single Westphalian customs office collected about 940 kilograms of such coins.