Vereinsthaler
Encyclopedia
The Vereinsthaler was a standard silver
coin
used in most German states
and the Austrian Empire
in the years prior to German unification
.
(based on the Prussian Thaler
) which was very slightly heavier. While the earlier Thaler had contained one fourteenth of a Cologne mark
of silver (16.704 gram
s), the Vereinsthaler contained 16⅔ gram
s of silver, which was indicated on the coins as one thirtieth of a metric pound (pfund, equal to 500 grams).
and several other northern German states, the Vereinsthaler was the standard unit of account, divided into 30 Silbergroschen
, each of 12 Pfennig
. See Prussian Vereinsthaler
.
In Saxony
, the Neugroschen
was equal to the Prussian Silbergroschen but was divided into 10 Pfennig. See Saxon Vereinsthaler
. Some other north German states, such as Hannover, used the name Groschen
rather than Silbergroschen for a coin of 12 Pfennig (see Hannovarian Vereinsthaler
), while the Mecklenburg
states and Hesse-Kassel
(or Hesse-Cassel) used entirely distinct subdivisions (see Mecklenburg Vereinsthaler
and Hesse-Kassel Vereinsthaler
.
In southern Germany, states including Bavaria
used the Gulden
as the standard unit of account, with 1¾ Gulden = 1 Vereinsthaler. The Gulden was divided into 60 Kreuzer
, each of 4 Pfennig or 8 Heller
. See Bavarian Gulden
, Baden Gulden
, Württemberg Gulden
.
In the Austrian Empire (and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire), a different Gulden
(also known as the Florin or, in Hungarian
, Forint
) was the unit of account, with 1½ Gulden = 1 Vereinsthaler. The Gulden was divided into 100 Kreuzer.
at a rate of 3 mark = 1 Vereinsthaler. Consequently, the new 10 pfennig coins were equivalent to the old Groschen of northern Germany and this became a nickname for the denomination. The Vereinsthaler coins continued to circulate as 3 mark coins until 1908, when they were replaced with smaller 3 mark coins. The name Thaler for 3 marks persisted until the 1930s.
Austria-Hungary stopped issuing Vereinsthaler coins in 1867, following the Austro-Prussian War
.
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
used in most German states
Historic states of Germany
This article lists the member states of the German Confederation of 1815-1866, the North German Confederation of 1866-1871 which became a federal empire in 1867, the German Empire of 1871-1918, and lastly the republic of Weimar Germany of 1919-1933....
and the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
in the years prior to German unification
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
.
Introduction
The Vereinsthaler was introduced in 1857 to replace the previous standard ThalerThaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
(based on the Prussian Thaler
Prussian thaler
The Thaler was the currency of Prussia until 1857. From 1750, it was distinct from north German Reichsthaler unit of account in that it contained 1/14 of a Cologne mark of silver, rather than 1/12, and was minted as a coin...
) which was very slightly heavier. While the earlier Thaler had contained one fourteenth of a Cologne mark
Cologne mark
The Cologne Mark was a unit of weight equivalent to 233.856 grams. It was introduced by the Danish King Hans in the late 15th century and was used as a standard for weighing metals...
of silver (16.704 gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
s), the Vereinsthaler contained 16⅔ gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
s of silver, which was indicated on the coins as one thirtieth of a metric pound (pfund, equal to 500 grams).
Use in Different States
The Vereinsthaler was used as the base for several different currencies. In PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and several other northern German states, the Vereinsthaler was the standard unit of account, divided into 30 Silbergroschen
Silbergroschen
The Silbergroschen was a coin used in Prussia and several other German Confederation states in northern Germany during the 19th century, worth one thirtieth of a Thaler....
, each of 12 Pfennig
Pfennig
The Pfennig , plural Pfennige, is an old German coin or note, which existed from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002....
. See Prussian Vereinsthaler
Prussian vereinsthaler
The Vereinsthaler was the currency of Prussia between 1857 and 1873. It replaced the Thaler at par and was replaced by the Mark at a rate of 1 Vereinsthaler = 3 Mark. The Vereinsthaler was subdivided into 30 Silbergroschen, each of 12 Pfenninge....
.
In Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, the Neugroschen
Neugroschen
The neugroschen is a coin that was introduced in 1841 in Saxony. It was equivalent to the Prussian silbergroschen but was divided into 10 pfennig, not 12 as in Prussia....
was equal to the Prussian Silbergroschen but was divided into 10 Pfennig. See Saxon Vereinsthaler
Saxon vereinsthaler
The Vereinsthaler was the currency of Saxony between 1857 and 1873. It replaced the Thaler at par and was replaced by the Mark at a rate of 1 Vereinsthaler = 3 Mark. The Vereinsthaler was subdivided into 30 Neugroschen, each of 10 Pfennig....
. Some other north German states, such as Hannover, used the name Groschen
Groschen
Groschen was the name for a coin used in various German-speaking states as well as some non-German-speaking countries of Central Europe , the Danubian principalities...
rather than Silbergroschen for a coin of 12 Pfennig (see Hannovarian Vereinsthaler
Hannovarian vereinsthaler
The Vereinsthaler was the currency of the Kingdom of Hanover between 1857 and 1866. The Vereinsthaler replaced the prior Thaler at par. The Vereinsthaler was first subdivided into 24 Groschen, each of 12 Pfennig, thus 288 Pfennig = 1 Vereinsthaler...
), while the Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
states and Hesse-Kassel
Hesse-Kassel
The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a state in the Holy Roman Empire under Imperial immediacy that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse. His eldest son William IV inherited the northern half and the...
(or Hesse-Cassel) used entirely distinct subdivisions (see Mecklenburg Vereinsthaler
Mecklenburg vereinsthaler
The Vereinsthaler was the currency of the two Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz between 1857 and 1873. It replaced the Mecklenburg Thaler at par and was replaced by the Mark at a rate of 1 Vereinsthaler = 3 Mark. The Vereinsthaler was subdivided into 48 Schillinge, each...
and Hesse-Kassel Vereinsthaler
Hesse-Kassel vereinsthaler
The Vereinsthaler was the currency of the Electorate of Hesse-Kassel between 1858 and 1873. It replaced the Thaler at par and was replaced by the German Mark at a rate of 1 Vereinsthaler = 3 Mark....
.
In southern Germany, states including Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
used the Gulden
South German gulden
The Gulden was the currency of the states of southern Germany between 1754 and 1873. These states included Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, Frankfurt and Hohenzollern....
as the standard unit of account, with 1¾ Gulden = 1 Vereinsthaler. The Gulden was divided into 60 Kreuzer
Kreuzer
The Kreuzer, in English usually kreutzer, was a silver coin and unit of currency existing in the southern German states prior to the unification of Germany, and in Austria.-Early history:...
, each of 4 Pfennig or 8 Heller
Heller (money)
The Heller or Häller was originally a German coin valued at half a pfennig and named after the city of Hall am Kocher...
. See Bavarian Gulden
Bavarian gulden
The Gulden was the currency of Bavaria until 1873. Between 1754 and 1837 it was a unit of account, worth of a Conventionsthaler, used to denominate banknotes but not issued as a coin...
, Baden Gulden
Baden gulden
The Gulden was a currency of Baden from 1754 until 1873. Until 1821, the Gulden was a unit of account, worth 5/12 of a Conventionsthaler, used to denominate banknotes but not issued as a coin. It was subdivided into 50 Conventionskreuzer or 60 Kreuzer landmünze.In 1821, the first Gulden coins were...
, Württemberg Gulden
Württemberg gulden
The Gulden was the currency of Württemberg until 1873. Until 1824, the Gulden was a unit of account and was used to denominate banknotes but was not issued as a coin. It was worth 5/12 of a Conventionsthaler and was subdivided into 50 Conventionskreuzer or 60 Kreuzer Landmünze.The first Gulden...
.
In the Austrian Empire (and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire), a different Gulden
Austro-Hungarian gulden
The Gulden or forint was the currency of the Austrian Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1754 and 1892 when it was replaced by the Krone/korona as part of the introduction of the gold standard. In Austria, the Gulden was initially divided into 60 Kreuzer, and in Hungary, the...
(also known as the Florin or, in Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
, Forint
Hungarian forint
The forint is the currency of Hungary. It is divided into 100 fillér, although fillér coins are no longer in circulation. The introduction of the forint on 1 August 1946 was a crucial step of the post-WWII stabilization of the Hungarian economy, and the currency remained relatively stable until...
) was the unit of account, with 1½ Gulden = 1 Vereinsthaler. The Gulden was divided into 100 Kreuzer.
Withdrawal
German unification saw the introduction of the GoldmarkGerman gold mark
The Goldmark was the currency used in the German Empire from 1873 to 1914.-History:Before unification, the different German states issued a variety of different currencies, though most were linked to the Vereinsthaler, a silver coin containing 16⅔ grams of pure silver...
at a rate of 3 mark = 1 Vereinsthaler. Consequently, the new 10 pfennig coins were equivalent to the old Groschen of northern Germany and this became a nickname for the denomination. The Vereinsthaler coins continued to circulate as 3 mark coins until 1908, when they were replaced with smaller 3 mark coins. The name Thaler for 3 marks persisted until the 1930s.
Austria-Hungary stopped issuing Vereinsthaler coins in 1867, following the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
.