1 Scherf

Erfurt's Scherf issues of the late fifteenth century were struck under the city's complex overlapping jurisdictions — the Archbishop of Mainz held nominal authority, but Erfurt maintained aggressive de facto autonomy over its coinage through much of this period. The Scherf itself was among the smallest denominations in circulation, a coin so light it was routinely clipped and debased without much consequence to anyone minding the difference.

At 0.14 g, losses from handling alone were economically meaningful relative to face value.