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2 Pfennig - Ernest Louis
| Issuer | Hesse-Darmstadt |
|---|---|
| Year | 1735 |
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| Currency | Thaler (1568-1805) |
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| Obverse description | Interlaced EL cypher of Landgrave Ernest Louis of Hesse-Darmstadt occupies the central field, surmounted by an elaborate electoral crown rendered in relief. The monogram is composed of the entwined initials E and L in a bold baroque style. A circular legend surrounds the central device, reading FURSTL HESS DARMST LAND MUNTZ, denoting the Hessian princely land coinage authority. The coin's rim is defined by a fine toothed border. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Ernest Louis ruled Hesse-Darmstadt from 1678 until his death in 1739, presiding over a court that punched well above its weight culturally — he founded the Darmstadt court orchestra and maintained one of the more sophisticated musical establishments in the German states. Financially, however, the landgraviate was perpetually strained, and small copper issues like this pfennig were minted partly to address chronic shortages of low-denomination coinage that plagued interior German territories throughout the early eighteenth century.
At 1.9 grams, these copper pieces were produced with minimal quality control, and planchet irregularities are the rule rather than the exception.