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Sternleinspfennig - Louis II
| Issuer | Landgraviate of Hessen |
|---|---|
| Year | 1458-1471 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a crowned Hessian lion rampant to the left, rendered in the crude but characteristic style of late medieval German billon coinage. A small star (Sternlein) appears prominently in the field, serving as the type's identifying device and giving the coin its collector designation. A horizontal line divides the field, with additional ornamental elements visible in the upper portion of the coin. The overall execution reflects hammered bracteate-adjacent technique typical of 15th-century Hessian pfennig production. The initial 'H' for Hessen appears as the primary legend element. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Louis II of Hessen inherited a financially strained landgraviate and relied heavily on small billon issues like this to manage day-to-day fiscal demands across his territory. The Sternleinspfennig — named for the small star device that distinguished these tiny fractions — circulated primarily in local markets where larger denominations were impractical. At 0.2 grams, striking losses and flan inconsistencies were routine at the mint, making well-preserved survivors genuinely scarce. Schulten 2050 places this type firmly within Louis II's extended tenure, though precise dating within the 1458–1471 window remains difficult without die-linkage study.