1 Körtling

Historical Context: This 1 Körtling, issued by the City of Göttingen in 1486, represents a tangible assertion of municipal sovereignty within the Holy Roman Empire during the late 15th century. As a significant Hanseatic city, Göttingen enjoyed considerable economic autonomy and the crucial right of coinage. The issuance of such regional denominations like the Körtling was vital for local commerce and underscored the city council's authority in an era preceding the major upheavals of the Reformation.

Artistry: The anonymous engraver of this Körtling worked within the prevalent Late Gothic stylistic tradition common to German municipal mints. Given the coin's modest size (21mm) and weight (1.14gg), the design typically features a simplified yet robust rendition of the city's heraldry, likely the three lions of Göttingen, on the obverse. The reverse would commonly display a cross or a supplementary heraldic device, surrounded by the city's