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1 Prague Groschen Counterstamped
| Issuer | Amberg, City of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1378-1419 |
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| Composition | Silver |
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| Obverse description | Central field depicts the rampant Bohemian lion passant to the left, with double tail curling upward, rendered in the bold Gothic hammered style characteristic of Prague groschen coinage. The lion is surrounded by a plain inner circle, with traces of a beaded or text border partially visible at the periphery. The coin exhibits characteristic irregular flan edges and surface wear consistent with heavy circulation. A countermark applied by the City of Amberg is visible, partially overlapping the lion device, attesting to local validation for use within the city's monetary system. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays the characteristic double-circle legend arrangement of the Prague groschen type, with Gothic uncial lettering arranged in two concentric bands around a central crown device, though the legends are largely illegible due to heavy wear and the application of a prominent oval or shield-shaped countermark of Amberg struck over the central field, obscuring much of the original design. The countermark, applied between 1378 and 1419, served as official municipal validation for circulation within the city of Amberg. The overall surface shows significant porosity and die wear consistent with a heavily circulated hammered silver coin. |
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| Additional information |
Amberg, a free imperial city in the Upper Palatinate, periodically counterstamped foreign silver to validate it for local circulation — a practice common among German cities that lacked consistent mint output of their own. The Prague Groschen, struck under the Bohemian crown, circulated widely across central Europe and frequently crossed into Palatinate territory through trade along the Naab valley routes.
The Krusý reference places this counterstamping practice squarely within the reign of Wenceslaus IV, a period of political instability in Bohemia that disrupted official monetary channels and pushed cities like Amberg toward ad hoc validation practices.