Stewart S. asks: What can you tell me about this old coin? Its about 25 mm in diameter (1 inch), copper coin. The obverse has a the inscription: “FRANZ KAIS V CEST KO Z HU BO GAL U LO. It has a ‘B’ under the head. The reverse has the inscription: “SCHEIDMUNZE DER WEINER WAEHRUNG” and “1 KREUTZER 1812”. Thanks
You have an 1812 Austria One Kreutzer (also spelled Kreuzer). You didn’t include the mint mark – there are seven for this date). Note that Rulers of the time had very long titles that listed all their ceremonial names. Also, coins of almost all European countries constructed coin legends in Latin, the international language of the time. To make them all fit, the titles are abbreviated, in Latin, no less.
Your coin shows a bust of Franz I, Austrian Emperor, 1806-1835. The legend roughly says:
Franz Emperor (KAISV) of Hungary, Bohemia, Lohra …etc and the reverse: SCHEIDMUNZE DER WIEINER WAEHRUNG – Fractional money of Vienna Currency. (Scheidemunze=”small change”).
The monetary relationship was:
8 Heller=4 Pfennig=1 Kreuzer
60 Kreuzer= 1 Florin or Gulden
2 Florin or Gulden= Thaler (Species)
The value ranges from about $1 to $60 depending on the grade and mint mark.
