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1/3 Thaler - Frederick II
| Issuer | Prussia, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1741 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | ⅓ Thaler |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Draped bust of Frederick II facing right, wearing elaborate armor with ornamental gorget and mantle, hair arranged in tight curls. The effigy is rendered in high relief in the Baroque court portrait tradition. The circular Latin legend surrounds the bust within a milled border: FRIDERICVS BORVSSORVM REX. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Frederick II came to the throne in May 1740, and within months had launched the invasion of Silesia — a calculated gamble that triggered the War of Austrian Succession and reshaped Central European power for a generation. This 1741 issue belongs to the very opening chapter of his reign, struck while Prussian armies were still consolidating control over the newly seized province.
The 1/3 Thaler denomination had a specific role in the Prussian monetary system as a coin substantial enough for significant transactions yet practical for military paymaster use. Frederick, who understood coinage as an instrument of fiscal policy, would later debase his silver issues during the Seven Years' War — these early pieces predate that period and were struck to full standard.