Körtling Coin: The Gothic Silver of Göttingen

Illustrated Specimen Details: Körtling

Example Specimen: Körtling, 1538 — City of Göttingen (Lower Saxony, Germany)

Principality of Göttingen — subdivision of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire, with Göttingen as its capital. It was split off from the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in 1286. In 1495 the Göttingen lands were incorporated as an integral part of the newly established Brunswick Principality of Calenberg, with which they stayed united until the territory was merged into the Electorate of Hanover.

MONETA NOVA GOTTING: This inscription identifies the coin as a "new currency" of Göttingen. The design features the Gothic letter G ("𝔊") inside an octilobe ornament, serving as the primary symbol of the issuing city.

A very notable feature of the coin is the date indicated in Roman numerals in a cumbersome format — MCCCCCXXXVIII, corresponding to the year 1538. Before the date, the letters "An - Dn" appear, abbreviating Anno Domini.

On the reverse, the Gothic letter G ("𝔊") is superimposed on a cross pattée. This silver körtling was minted for over 120 years; gradually, the weight decreased from about 1.5 grams for the 1429 specimen to 1 gram in 1555.

1. GERMAN STATES, 15th-18th centuries (City of Göttingen, City of Einbeck, City of Northeim...): 1 körtling = 6 pfennig = 1/48 thaler

KÖRTLING as coin name. A historical silver German coin of the 15th-18th centuries, characteristic mostly of the state formations of Lower Saxony.

History and Etymology of the Körtling

The Körtling is a small silver denomination associated with the monetary circulation of Northern and Central Europe. Most numismatic sources indicate that it was equal to 6 pfennigs or 1/48 of a thaler. The first körtling dates back to 1429 and was issued by the Lower Saxon City of Göttingen.

The "Letter" Coins of the 15th-16th Centuries

Almost immediately, coins with visually similar designs began to be issued by neighboring city-states. These "clones" are distinguished by the Gothic letter of the issuing city's name: "𝔊" for Göttingen, "𝔈" for Einbeck, and "𝔑" for Northeim. Later, other German states joined the issue, though their versions often appeared as completely different types, sometimes identified simply as "6 pfennigs" or "6 hellers."

The "Short Groschen" Theory

The origin of the name körtling remains debated. One theory suggests it originates from the German word "kurzling," meaning "short groschen" or "small groschen." While the exact logic remains a mystery, it reflects the coin's role as a minor fractional unit within a highly fragmented monetary system.

Numismatic Significance

In the late Middle Ages, expanding trade required large quantities of small change. Urban centers needed reliable low-value coinage for daily commerce, leading to the proliferation of the körtling. However, these coins were vulnerable to debasement, resulting in cycles of depreciation. For advanced collectors, clearly identified specimens with Gothic initials provide essential insight into the lower tiers of the medieval monetary economy.