⅙ Thaler - William IX

William IX came to power in Hesse-Cassel in 1785 inheriting one of the most mercenary-dependent treasuries in the Holy Roman Empire — the principality had spent decades leasing its soldiers to foreign powers, most notoriously to Britain during the American Revolutionary War. By the time this fractional thaler was struck, that revenue stream had dried up, and the landgraviate was navigating a sharply reduced income while William manoeuvred politically to secure elevation to Elector, which he achieved in 1803 as Wilhelm I of Hesse.