Braunau am Inn was occupied by French and Bavarian forces during the War of the Austrian Succession, and when Austrian troops besieged the city in 1743, normal coin supply collapsed entirely. The garrison and civilian population resorted to casting lead — a material scraped from rooftops, window weights, and whatever else could be melted — to produce emergency currency. These crudely struck square planchets were never intended to outlast the siege.
Braunau surrendered to Austrian forces in May 1743, making the entire production window a matter of weeks.
Braunau am Inn was occupied by French and Bavarian forces during the War of the Austrian Succession, and when Austrian troops besieged the city in 1743, normal coin supply collapsed entirely. The garrison and civilian population resorted to casting lead — a material scraped from rooftops, window weights, and whatever else could be melted — to produce emergency currency. These crudely struck square planchets were never intended to outlast the siege.
Braunau surrendered to Austrian forces in May 1743, making the entire production window a matter of weeks.