The so-called Pilgergroschen was struck to commemorate William I's pilgrimage to Jerusalem — one of the few German territorial rulers of the period to undertake the journey in person. William departed in 1491 and the coin was issued upon his return, functioning less as a monetary instrument than as a prestige piece documenting the event. Whether it saw any meaningful circulation is doubtful.
The Pr.Alex#123a reference places this among the rarer die variants documented by Prüfer-Alexander, distinguished from the commoner 123 by subtle differences in the legend punctuation.
The so-called Pilgergroschen was struck to commemorate William I's pilgrimage to Jerusalem — one of the few German territorial rulers of the period to undertake the journey in person. William departed in 1491 and the coin was issued upon his return, functioning less as a monetary instrument than as a prestige piece documenting the event. Whether it saw any meaningful circulation is doubtful.
The Pr.Alex#123a reference places this among the rarer die variants documented by Prüfer-Alexander, distinguished from the commoner 123 by subtle differences in the legend punctuation.