1/2 Thaler Centenary of the Reformation

Nuremberg issued this piece in 1617 to mark exactly one century since Luther's posting of the Ninety-Five Theses, and the city had particular reason to commemorate the moment — it was among the first imperial cities to formally adopt Lutheranism, doing so officially in 1525. The centenary was observed across Protestant German states with considerable civic and religious ceremony, and medallic issues proliferated that year from dozens of mints and civic authorities.

The Kelln and Whiting references place this firmly within the well-documented Reformation centenary series, though Nuremberg's output was more restrained than some contemporaries. The city's half thaler weight standard at this date ran slightly lighter than the Reichsthaler convention.