1 Groschen - Julius Echter of Mespelbrunn Death

Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn died in September 1617 after ruling the Bishopric of Würzburg for nearly half a century — one of the longest episcopal reigns of the Counter-Reformation period. He had expelled the Protestant population of the bishopric in 1585 and founded the Julius-Maximilians-Universität in 1582, making him one of the most consequential and polarizing ecclesiastical princes of his generation. Memorial issues like this groschen were standard practice at the death of a prince-bishop, serving the dual function of marking succession and circulating within the territory during the interregnum.

Helmschrot 147 places this among the smaller denominations of the death series, distinct from the heavier memorial talers struck the same year.