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20 Kreuzers - Ernest Frederick III
| Issuer | Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen (German States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1760 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Draped bust of Ernest Frederick III facing right, wearing a wig with curled locks and armored or mantled shoulders, rendered in the Baroque portrait style typical of mid-18th century German coinage. The effigy occupies the central field and is well-modeled in high relief. A circular Latin legend surrounds the bust along the periphery, reading ERN FRID CAR D G DVX SAXON, identifying the ruler by his abbreviated titles. The coin is bordered by a fine beaded or milled inner rim. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Ernest Frederick III ruled Saxe-Hildburghausen through chronic financial embarrassment — the duchy was among the smallest and most debt-ridden of the Saxon partition states, and its coinage output reflects that desperation. Billon issues like this one were a standard resort for territories that lacked the silver reserves for proper Kreuzer coinage but still needed to meet military and administrative obligations during the Seven Years' War, which was grinding through its fifth year when this piece was struck.
The duchy's fiscal crisis ran deep enough that Ernest Frederick III was eventually forced to cede financial administration to an imperial commission in 1769.