½ Kreuzer - Leopold I Oppeln
| Billon | - | - |
| Issuer | Royal Mint of Silesia |
|---|---|
| King | Leopold I (1657-1705) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1674-1691 |
| Value | ½ Kreuzer (1⁄120) |
| Currency | Thaler |
| Composition | Billon |
| Shape | Round |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-03 |
| Numista | N#180911 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Uniface coin, blank.
Comment
Variants for 1678, one with the imperial eagle to the right, and one with the date below divided by the value.Interesting fact
The ½ Kreuzer coin from the Royal Mint of Silesia, minted during the reign of Leopold I (Oppeln) from 1674 to 1691, was made of Billon, which is an alloy of copper and silver. This was a common practice during that time period, as it was more cost-effective than using pure silver or gold. However, the use of Billon in coinage also led to issues with counterfeiting, as it was easier to debase the currency by mixing in cheaper metals. To combat this, mints began to introduce measures such as reeding or milled edges to make it harder to tamper with the coins.
