2 Thalers - John Frederick I

John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, lost both his electoral title and his freedom at the Battle of Mühlberg in 1547, when Charles V's forces crushed the Schmalkaldic League. These double thalers were struck during his imprisonment — he was held captive by the Emperor until 1552, released only after the Princes' Revolt forced Charles into the Peace of Passau. Coins issued under his name during this window carry a peculiar legitimacy problem: he was signing documents as Elector of Saxony while his cousin Maurice held the actual electorate.

The Schnee 143 attribution places this among the better-documented issues of his captivity coinage, struck at Gotha or Weimar under the authority of his sons.