1 Groschen - August I

August of Saxony issued groschen in enormous quantities throughout his reign, a deliberate policy tied to his aggressive exploitation of the Erzgebirge silver mines — particularly those around Annaberg and Schneeberg — which placed Saxony among the most productive minting authorities in the Holy Roman Empire during the second half of the sixteenth century. The electoral treasury benefited directly; August used mint revenues to fund one of the most solvent German courts of his generation.

The long date range across these issues means die wear and minor variety differences are common within the type. Kohl 56 distinguishes several subtypes by mintmaster mark.