1 Spitzgroschen - August I

The Spitzgroschen denomination takes its name from the pointed oval shield — *Spitz* meaning pointed — that dominated Saxon groschen coinage in the mid-sixteenth century. August I came to power in 1553 following the humiliation of his brother Moritz, whose military gamble against Emperor Charles V had ended in Moritz's death at Sievershausen that same year. August inherited both the electorate and the task of stabilizing Saxon finances after years of costly warfare.

Keil/Kahnt 104 is a well-documented type with modest die variety, though attribution between the 1553 and 1555 production years requires close attention to the mintmaster's mark.