Angster

The Angster was the smallest denomination in Zürich's late medieval monetary hierarchy, a coin so marginal in value that municipally issued examples were frequently struck in highly debased billon — silver content often negligible enough to approach copper. HMZ 2#1158a places this piece within the city's autonomous coinage tradition, which Zürich exercised jealously as a free imperial city. At 0.19 grams, replacement striking was continuous; dies wore quickly and were replaced without ceremony, which accounts for the considerable die variety documented across the type.