Rare silver coins from the 17th century discovered in Brandenburg!

Rare silver coins from the 17th century discovered in Brandenburg!

There is exciting news during the current excavations at Gotthardkirchplatz in Brandenburg an der Havel: Archaeologists have discovered a hidden collection of rare silver coins from the 17th century. This excitement was announced today in a statement from the Brandenburg State Office for Monument Preservation. Hidden in a copper cauldron were not only a city coin from Hamburg, but also half a Dutch Reichsthaler and a coin from Switzerland rbb24 reported.

The find is all the more remarkable because the site was once characterized by a half-timbered house that was abandoned and leveled in the 17th century. These coins could therefore provide exciting conclusions about the economic activities and trading conditions of that time.

The historical context of the coins

The silver coins that have now come to light belong to a time that was of great importance for economy and trade. Interestingly, similar finds are also known from earlier eras, such as those of Frank Slawinski, a licensed detectorist who discovered over 2,000 silver coins from the Middle Ages. His find, the Archeology Online According to him, offers valuable insights into the coin circulation in the West Slavic region 1,000 years ago.

The coins that Slawinski found mainly come from around 1050 and show a high concentration of edge and high edge pennies. These coins were not only used as a means of payment, but were often also a form of storage of value. The finds also prove that the coin trade was already flourishing back then and was an important element of economic life.

Coin trading in the Middle Ages

To fully understand the significance of silver coins throughout history, it is worth taking a look at the complete collection of the most important silver coins of the Middle Ages. This includes a total of 12 coins that were minted between the 12th and 14th centuries. During this time, the type of coinage of the bracteates was particularly important in German-speaking countries Coin courier turns out.

The bracteates, simple, thin silver coins, have an interesting history. Originally created for recurring monetary needs, the design of these coins became increasingly difficult in the late Middle Ages. There was also a call for permanent currencies, which led to the introduction of pfennigs and hellers.

The half coins that have now been discovered in Brandenburg are part of a larger story that describes the development of coinage over many centuries and could soon reveal even more secrets of the trade and economic history of this region. An exciting time awaits us as construction work on the expansion of the “Sonnensegel” youth art gallery begins in the next two years.