Friedrich d'or
Encyclopedia
The Friedrich d'or was a Prussian gold coin
(pistole
) nominally worth 5 silver Prussian Reichsthaler
s. It was used from 1741 to 1855 and since it was a silver standard
regular issue coin
and trade coin
at this time, it had a different purpose to domestic silver coinage or Kurantgeld, the so-called window on the stock exchange
s. It was normally traded at a small premium
or discount
to the face value
of 5 silver coins. In Prussian purchase contracts or bonds
it was, due to its monetary usage, distinguished as the "preußisch Courant" or "Friedrich d'or".
Around 1780, for example, the Saxon August d'or had a price of 116 to 120 Groschen sächsischen Silberkurantgeldes, as a maximum discount of 4 Groschen. In the 19th century it usually had a low premium.
and French Louis d'or
, the forerunner of the friedrich d'or was the Wilhelm d'or. It was first minted in 1741 by Frederick II
. It was continued by his successors Frederick William II
, Frederick William III
and Frederick William IV
, until 1855. From 1747 a double Friedrich d'or was minted, and a half Friedrich d'or from 1749. Its weight in 1770 was 6.05 to 6.03 grams.
Other states, such as Saxony, were influence to mint a August-, Friedrich-August-, Christian- or Max d'or (after their rulers' first names). These gold and silver coins also instituted a temporary fineness
in the coinage of the German states.
gold. The fine weight was 6.032g. On the obverse was the king's head, and on the reverse was an eagle standing on its shield.
Gold coin
A gold coin is a coin made mostly or entirely of gold. Gold has been used for coins practically since the invention of coinage, originally because of gold's intrinsic value...
(pistole
Pistole
Pistole is the French name given to a Spanish gold coin in use in 1537; it was a double escudo, the gold unit. The name was also given to the Louis d'Or of Louis XIII of France, and to other European gold coins of about the value of the Spanish coin...
) nominally worth 5 silver Prussian Reichsthaler
Reichsthaler
The Reichsthaler was a standard Thaler of the Holy Roman Empire, established in 1566 by the Leipzig convention. It was also the name of a unit of account in northern Germany and of a silver coin issued by Prussia.-Reichsthaler coin:...
s. It was used from 1741 to 1855 and since it was a silver standard
Silver standard
The silver standard is a monetary system in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed weight of silver. The silver specie standard was widespread from the fall of the Byzantine Empire until the 19th century...
regular issue coin
Regular issue coinage
Business strike is a term that distinguishes coins created for commerce from commemorative coins and proof coins. Regular issue coins are normally produced in relatively large numbers, and are primarily meant to be used as pocket change, not collected...
and trade coin
Trade coin
Trade coins are coins minted by a government, but not necessarily current within the territory of the issuing country. These quasi bullion coins were thus actually export goods - that is, bullion in the form of coins, used to bulk buy important goods from other countries, where they could be...
at this time, it had a different purpose to domestic silver coinage or Kurantgeld, the so-called window on the stock exchange
Stock exchange
A stock exchange is an entity that provides services for stock brokers and traders to trade stocks, bonds, and other securities. Stock exchanges also provide facilities for issue and redemption of securities and other financial instruments, and capital events including the payment of income and...
s. It was normally traded at a small premium
Agio (commerce)
Agio is a term used in commerce for exchange rate, discountor premium.-Exchange rate:The variations from fixed par values or rates of exchange in the currencies of different countries. For example, in most countries that used the gold standard, the standard coin was kept up to a uniform point of...
or discount
Point (mortgage)
Points, sometimes also called a "discount point", are a form of pre-paid interest. One point equals one percent of the loan amount. By charging a borrower points, a lender effectively increases the yield on the loan above the amount of the stated interest rate...
to the face value
Face value
The Face value is the value of a coin, stamp or paper money, as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the minting authority. While the face value usually refers to the true value of the coin, stamp or bill in question it can sometimes be largely symbolic, as is often the case with bullion...
of 5 silver coins. In Prussian purchase contracts or bonds
IOU (debt)
An IOU is usually an informal document acknowledging debt. An IOU differs from a promissory note in that an IOU is not a negotiable instrument and does not specify repayment terms such as the time of repayment. IOUs usually specify the debtor, the amount owed, and sometimes the creditor...
it was, due to its monetary usage, distinguished as the "preußisch Courant" or "Friedrich d'or".
Around 1780, for example, the Saxon August d'or had a price of 116 to 120 Groschen sächsischen Silberkurantgeldes, as a maximum discount of 4 Groschen. In the 19th century it usually had a low premium.
History
Modelled on the Spanish doubloonDoubloon
The doubloon , was a two-escudo or 32-reales gold coin, weighing 6.77 grams . Doubloons were minted in Spain, Mexico, Peru, and Nueva Granada...
and French Louis d'or
Louis d'or
The Louis d'or is any number of French coins first introduced by Louis XIII in 1640. The name derives from the depiction of the portrait of King Louis on one side of the coin; the French royal coat of arms is on the reverse...
, the forerunner of the friedrich d'or was the Wilhelm d'or. It was first minted in 1741 by Frederick II
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
. It was continued by his successors Frederick William II
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
, Frederick William III
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
and Frederick William IV
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
, until 1855. From 1747 a double Friedrich d'or was minted, and a half Friedrich d'or from 1749. Its weight in 1770 was 6.05 to 6.03 grams.
Other states, such as Saxony, were influence to mint a August-, Friedrich-August-, Christian- or Max d'or (after their rulers' first names). These gold and silver coins also instituted a temporary fineness
Fineness
The fineness of a precious metal refers to the ratio of the primary metal to any additives or impurities.A piece of alloy metal containing a precious metal may have the weight of its precious component referred to as its fine weight. For example, 1 troy ounce of 18 karat gold may be said to have a...
in the coinage of the German states.
Appearance
The Friedrich d'or was 21 caratCarat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
gold. The fine weight was 6.032g. On the obverse was the king's head, and on the reverse was an eagle standing on its shield.