18 Gröscher - Frederick II

The 18 Groschen denomination was Frederick II's primary tool for financing the Seven Years' War — debased coinage struck to pay troops while passing at face value in occupied Saxony and Poland. Frederick openly acknowledged the policy, famously remarking that bad money was for enemies and good money for Prussians. The 1755 issues predate the worst debasements, sitting closer to legitimate silver content before the systematic reduction that followed Saxony's occupation in 1756.

The Olding FR#189 b/c distinction separates die variants by reverse legend spacing — a granular but established classification within this heavily studied series.