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12 Kreuzer - Wolfgang, Bruno, John Frederick and Philip Kipper

Issuer Mansfeld-Bornstedt, County of
Year 1621
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Reference(s) KM#66, Slg. Kraaz#849, Tornau#9/10
Obverse description Central field displays the four-fold quartered arms of Mansfeld, surmounted by an ornate crowned helmet with crest, dividing the date (16-21) in the field to either side. A descending angel appears above the shield as a crest supporter. The whole is encircled by a beaded inner border, with a Latin legend running around the outer margin.
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Edge Plain
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Additional information

The Kipper und Wipper crisis of 1619–1622 was one of the most destructive monetary collapses in German history, driven by petty princes and minting contractors who systematically debased coinage to exploit fixed exchange rates. Mansfeld was among the most aggressive participants. The four co-ruling counts of Bornstedt flooded the Holy Roman Empire with underweight, low-silver issues while reminting good coins from neighboring territories at a profit — a practice so destabilizing it contributed to famine conditions in parts of central Germany.

The 1621 date places this piece at the height of the frenzy, just before imperial edicts began forcing mints to close.

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