1/2 Thaler Holy Roman Empire (962-1806) Silver

1775, Regensburg (Free City), Jeseph II. Silver 1/2 Thaler “City-View” Coin. 

Mint Year: 1775

Denomination: 1/2 Thaler

Reference: Beckenbauer 7204, KM-427.

Mint Official: Georg Christoph Busch (G.C.B.)

Mint Place: Regensburg (as a Free Imperial City)

Die-Cutter: Johann Nikolaus Körnlein (KÖRNLEIN)
Weight: 14.06gm

Diameter: 37mm

Material: Silver

Obverse: Laureated, draped and armored bust of Emperor Joseph II right, wearing Toison Order on breastplate.

Comment: Die-cutter’s signature (KÖRNLEIN) inside arm truncation!

Legend: JESEPHVS II . D . G . ROM . IMP . SEMP . AVG

Reverse: City view of Regensburg with bridge, church and gorgeus minimalistic river details, such as rudder and cargo boats.


Legend: MONETA REIP . RATISPON

Exergue: XX . ST . EINE F. C . M / 1775 . / G.C.B.

From 1663 to 1806, the Regensburg was the permanent seat of the Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire. Thus Regensburg was one of the central towns of the Empire, attracting visitors in large numbers. In 1803 the city lost its status as a free city. It was handed over to the Archbishop of Mainz and Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire Carl von Dalberg in compensation for Mainz, which had become French under the terms of the Treaty of Lunéville in 1801. The archbishopric of Mainz was formally transferred to Regensburg. Dalberg united the bishopric, the monsteries and the town itself, making up the Principality of Regensburg (Fürstentum Regensburg). Dalberg strictly modernised public life. Most importantly he awarded equal rights to Protestants and Roman Catholics. In 1810 Dalberg ceded Regensburg to the Kingdom of Bavaria, he himself being compensated by the towns of Fulda and Hanau being given to him under the title of “Grand Duke of Frankfurt”.

Joseph II (Joseph Benedikt Anton Michael Adam; March 13, 1741 – February 20, 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I. He was thus the first ruler in the Austrian dominions of the House of Lorraine, styled Habsburg-Lorraine (von Habsburg-Lothringen in German). Joseph was a proponent of enlightened absolutism. He is famous for his many modernising reforms, the opposition to them by some groups, and the resulting failure of his programme.

He is known by the names in the languages of his territories: German: Joseph II, Hungarian: II József, Dutch: Jozef II, Italian: Giuseppe II, Czech: Josef II, Slovak: Jozef II, Slovene: Jožef II, Romanian: Iosif al II-lea, Croatian: Josip II, Polish: Józef II.