1/4 Ducat - Charles

Charles I of Hesse-Cassel financed much of his court through the notorious Soldatenhandel — the leasing of Hessian troops to foreign powers, a practice that generated enormous revenue but made the landgraviate deeply unpopular with its own subjects. Quarter ducats of this period were struck in small quantities, largely for presentation and diplomatic purposes rather than general circulation, which explains why surviving examples show almost no wear.