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1 Heller Hand heller, Händleinheller - Frederick II
| Issuer | Electorate of Saxony (Albertinian Line) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1428-1464 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central device composed of an open hand displayed palmward, fingers pointing upward, with a six-petalled rosette or flower motif positioned at the base of the palm between the thumb and index finger. The hand device is rendered in low relief typical of hammered bracteate-style coinage of the period. The flan is irregular and slightly concave, with no surrounding legend or border inscription. This hand motif is the distinctive type marker giving the issue its popular name Händleinheller. |
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| Reverse description | Quartered heraldic shield divided per pale and per fess, bearing in the dexter chief a rampant lion to the right representing the Landgraviate of Thuringia, and in the sinister field two horizontal bars representing the Margraviate of Meissen. The shield is set within a cross pattée whose four arms extend to the coin's irregular edge, forming a characteristic bracteate cross frame. The design is struck in low relief with typical medieval die work of the Saxon mint tradition. No surrounding legend is present. |
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| Additional information |
The Heller — derived from Hall in Swabia, where the type originated in the 13th century — circulated as one of the smallest silver denominations in the Holy Roman Empire, and by Frederick II's tenure as Elector of Saxony it had already been debased well below its original fineness. Frederick, known as "the Gentle," ruled during the prolonged fallout of the Saxon fratricidal wars, and his coinage reflects a treasury under persistent strain. The "Händleinheller" designation references the open hand device, a distinction used by collectors to separate die groupings within this otherwise poorly documented series.