1659, Archbishopric of Cologne, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria. Silver 8 Heller. R!
Mint year: 1559
State: Archibishopric of Cologne
Denomination: 8 Heller (4 Pfennig)
Reference: KM-52 (no valuation given!). Rare!
Ruler (Archbishop): Maximilian Henry of Bavaria
Condition: Lightly ragged edge and lightly creased, otherwise VF!
Diameter: 17mm
Weight: 0.61gm
Material: Silver
Obverse: Quartered arms within inner circle. Date (15[74]) in legend.
Legend: ELEC . ECCL : COLON . 74 (privy mark)
Reverse: Quartered arms within inner circle.
Legend: ERNESTVS . DEI GR * 8 .
The Archbishop of Cologne is an archbishop of the Catholic Church in western North Rhine-Westphalia and northern Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany and was a ex officio (one of the electors) of the Holy Roman Empire, the Elector of Cologne, from 1356 to 1801. Since the early days of the Catholic Church, there have been ninety-four bishops and archbishops of Cologne (German Köln). Seven of these ninety-four retired by resignation, including four resignations which were in response to impeachment. Eight of the bishops and archbishops were coadjutor bishops before they took office. Seven individuals were appointed as coadjutors freely by the Pope. One of the ninety-four moved to the Curia, where he became a cardinal. Additionally, six of the archbishops of Cologne were chairmen of the German Bishops' Conference.
Maximilian Henry of Bavaria (German: Maximilian Heinrich von Bayern: 8 October 1621 – 3 June 1688) was the third son and fourth child of Albert VI, landgrave of Leuchtenberg and his wife, Mechthilde von Leuchtenberg. In 1650, he was named Archbishop of Cologne, Bishop of Hildesheim and Bishop of Liège succeeding his uncle, Ferdinand of Bavaria. In 1683, he was named Bishop of Münster, but Pope Innocent XI refused to confirm this nomination. He died in 1688 and was succeeded by Joseph Clemens of Bavaria.