1/2 Kreuzer - Franz II

Franz II struck these small copper pieces in the shadow of the French Revolutionary Wars — by 1800, Austria had already suffered the humiliating Peace of Campo Formio and was months away from the catastrophic defeat at Marengo. The imperial finances were under severe strain, and the copper coinage absorbed pressure that the silver and gold could not.

KM#2108 was produced at multiple Austrian mints during this period; the mint mark on individual specimens determines which facility struck the piece, a distinction the catalog number alone cannot resolve.